Mobile Handset Is Now the Front Door to the Future of Banking in Africa
The Africa Digital Banking Experience report shows mobile handsets have become the primary gateway to banking across the continent. With mobile penetration rising and smartphones becoming affordable, banks are shifting to mobile‑first strategies and redesigning products for handset users. While digital payments still account for only 5‑7% of transactions, mobile banking now serves the majority of digitally active customers, reshaping competition among banks, fintechs, and telecom operators. The study highlights both the growth potential and persistent challenges such as connectivity, security, and device affordability.
A Coordinated Attack Caused the USD1 Peg Wobble but One Exchange Holds 93% Supply
World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin briefly slipped to $0.994 on Feb. 23, a 0.6% deviation that recovered within minutes. The company blamed a coordinated attack involving hacked co‑founder accounts, influencer‑driven fear, and large short positions. Binance holds roughly 93% of the...
ESMA Reminds Firms of Their Obligations Under CFD Product Intervention Measures Amid Rising Offerings of Perpetual Futures
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a reminder that firms must verify whether newly offered perpetual futures and similar derivatives fall within the scope of existing CFD product‑intervention measures. The regulator highlights that many of these instruments, including...
IEX Head of Cross Asset Product Joins Kraken to Lead Global Derivatives
John Palmer, former IEX head of cross‑asset product, has been hired by Kraken as global head of derivatives, bringing extensive experience from IEX, Cboe and Goldman Sachs. His appointment follows Kraken’s recent acquisition of an FCA MTF license to launch...
NPTN by LMS Joins Bank of England Synchronisation Lab to Tackle Remortgage Friction
LMS, through its NPTN network, has entered the Bank of England’s Synchronisation Lab to pilot a synchronized settlement model for remortgages. The eight‑week test will run in a simulated Real‑Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) environment, splitting payments into earmark and settle...
We Tested M-PESA’s Latest Feature Shiriki Pay. Here’s How It Works.
Safaricom is piloting Shiriki Pay, a mini‑app inside the M‑PESA super app that lets a sponsor delegate up to two beneficiaries a monthly spending allowance drawn directly from the sponsor’s wallet. The feature caps usage, supports Buy Goods, Paybill, Pochi...
Partnerships Key to Unlocking Value in Payments Space: KPMG International
KPMG International’s new report warns that banks and retailers must forge strategic partnerships to keep pace with rapid payment‑technology change. Survey data from 500 banks and 500 retailers shows 54 % of retailers consider payment modernization essential, yet only 45 % say...
Fintechs May Finally Get Regulatory Clarity as Kenya’s Central Bank Reviews Laws
Kenya’s Central Bank announced a consultancy to review the Central Bank Act and the Banking Act. The overhaul targets ambiguous provisions affecting digital banking, fintech regulation, consumer protection and cybersecurity. The current legal grey zone has delayed operating licences for...
TDRA Reinforces Efforts for Integrated Digital Payment Ecosystem
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) convened a workshop to accelerate a unified digital payment ecosystem across UAE federal entities. Participants outlined a vision that blends digital identity, multiple payment channels, and secure settlement to simplify government transactions....
Coinbase USDC Revenue May Multiply 7x as Payments Grow, Bloomberg Says
Bloomberg Intelligence projects Coinbase’s stablecoin revenue, which already represented 19% of its 2025 earnings, could increase between two and seven times if USDC usage in payments accelerates. The exchange earned $1.35 billion from stablecoins in 2025, up from $911 million in 2024,...
Asia Pacific CFOs Push Banks to Rethink Working Capital, Study Finds
A Visa‑PYMNTS Working Capital Index shows nearly 50% of Asia‑Pacific growth‑stage firms (revenues $50 M‑$1 B) lack usable working‑capital tools, citing mismatched product design. CFOs demand flexible, sector‑specific digital financing, especially virtual and commercial cards that act as short‑term funding sources. High‑performing...
The Clearing House: Trust Is the Gatekeeper for What’s Next in Payments
The Clearing House’s chief strategy officer, Sal Karakaplan, declared “trust” the 2026 word of the year for payments, arguing it is the functional prerequisite for new players, technologies, and flows to gain lasting adoption. He highlighted the RTP® network’s expansion—now reaching...
Nearly Half of Shoppers Used Mobile for Their Latest Retail Purchase
The 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions, found that 48% of shoppers used a mobile device for their most recent retail purchase, with usage exceeding 60% in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Mobile browsing frequency is...
Tokenization Moves Into Production as Collateral Leads the Way
Tokenization is moving from experimental labs into core derivatives infrastructure, with Franklin Templeton and DTCC executives highlighting its ability to embed contracts directly in assets and replace multiple ledgers with a shared record. The technology promises near‑instant settlement and 24/7...
Freightos Revenues up Nearly 25% in 2025
Freightos reported $29.5 million revenue for 2025, a 24 % increase over 2024, driven by higher carrier participation and transaction volume. Adjusted EBITDA narrowed to a $11.2 million loss, improving from $12.6 million the prior year, while cash reserves remain sufficient to fund growth....
BVNK Secures MiCA Licence in Malta to Expand European Stablecoin Operations
BVNK, an enterprise stablecoin infrastructure provider, secured a Crypto‑Asset Services Provider (CASP) licence from Malta’s Financial Services Authority, aligning it with the EU’s MiCA framework. The licence allows BVNK to passport MiCA‑regulated digital‑asset services across all European Economic Area members....
Esperanza Securities Launches Asia S First Approved Entertainment Token Investment
Esperanza Fintech Securities secured approval from Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission to launch Asia's first regulated tokenized investment platform focused on live entertainment. The firm will issue security tokens through a managed fund, lowering entry barriers and enabling secondary‑market...
TRM Labs, Finray Technologies Partner for Crypto and Fiat Monitoring
TRM Labs and Finray Technologies have integrated Finray’s XZiel compliance engine with TRM’s blockchain intelligence, creating a unified system for monitoring crypto and fiat transactions. The platform delivers real‑time risk alerts, automated case management and a detailed audit trail across...
Mashreq Launches First-of-Its-Kind Digital Cross-Border Accounts for Non-Resident Pakistanis in the UAE
Mashreq Bank has introduced a fully digital cross‑border account service that lets UAE‑based Pakistani expatriates open a Mashreq Pakistan account through the UAE mobile app. The offering replaces manual paperwork with a seamless, end‑to‑end digital experience and integrates a unified...
Stripe, PayPal Ventures Bet on India’s Xflow to Fix Cross-Border B2B Payments
Xflow, a Bengaluru‑based fintech, closed a $16.6 million Series A round led by General Catalyst with participation from Stripe and PayPal Ventures, valuing the company at $85 million post‑money. The startup now has over $32 million in total funding and processes roughly $1 billion in...
Malaysia Allows Brokers to Offer Digital Asset Trading Under Securities Rules
Malaysia’s Securities Commission issued a practice note allowing licensed stockbrokers with Capital Markets Services licences to provide broking services for approved digital assets under existing securities rules. Brokers must obtain regulator concurrence, use locally registered exchanges or vetted foreign platforms,...
Ant Group’s Alipay AI Pay and AI Health App AQ Each Surpass 100 Million Users During CNY Highlighting AI Adoption...
Ant Group reported that its AI‑powered payment service, Alipay AI Pay, and its AI Health application, AQ, each surpassed 100 million active users during the Chinese New Year holiday. The milestone underscores a rapid acceleration of AI‑driven consumer services in China,...
This Startup Wants to Make Chicken Cheaper in Nigeria with a Simple Solution
Cubeseed Africa is launching a digital marketplace that links Nigerian poultry farmers directly with restaurants, hotels and other buyers, bypassing traditional middlemen. By using escrow payments and a Sterling Bank‑backed credit line, the platform guarantees timely funds for farmers while...
Visa Expands Latin America Footprint: To Acquire Argentina’s Prisma Medios De Pago and Newpay
Visa announced the acquisition of Argentina’s Prisma Medios de Pago and the fintech platform Newpay, marking a strategic push into Latin America’s payments ecosystem. The combined deal, valued at over $200 million, will be funded largely with cash. By integrating Prisma’s...
Fidelity National Information Services Inc (FIS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) posted Q4 2025 adjusted revenue of $2.7 billion, up 6.3% year‑over‑year, and lifted its full‑year revenue growth outlook to 5.4‑5.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 41.8% with a sequential 200‑basis‑point improvement, while free cash flow conversion...
Marqeta Inc (MQ) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Marqeta reported Q4 2024 total processed volume (TPV) of $80 billion, a 29% year‑over‑year increase, and net revenue of $136 million, up 14%. Adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $13 million, delivering a 9% margin, marking the company’s first profitable quarter. The firm announced...
Flywire Corp (FLYW) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Flywire reported Q4 2024 revenue of $112.8 million, a 17.4% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA that rose roughly 700 basis points, meeting the midpoint of its guidance. The company highlighted strong growth in its travel vertical—over 50% organic expansion making it...
What Do Community Bankers Want? What Do Community Banks Need?
The 2025 CSBS Annual Survey reveals community banks are feeling heightened pressure from non‑bank competitors, especially in payments and wealth‑management services, while deposit‑rate volatility forces more aggressive pricing. Cybercrime emerges as the top internal risk, with card and identity fraud...
State Bill Could End Tax Break for Large Digital Lenders
Washington State’s House Bill 2089 seeks to restore dwindling wildfire‑prevention funding by revoking a tax deduction that currently benefits large digital mortgage lenders. The deduction, originally crafted for community banks, generated $91.6 million in savings in 2024, with 65 % captured by...
Crypto.com Secures Conditional Approval for National Trust Bank Charter
Crypto.com has secured conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter Foris Dax National Trust Bank, operating as Crypto.com National Trust Bank. The bank will deliver custody, staking and trade‑settlement services under OCC supervision,...
Securities and Exchange Commission Schedules Roundtable to Discuss “Retailization” Of Private Securities
The SEC will host a Private Markets Roundtable on March 4, 2026 to discuss the retailization of private securities. Currently, non‑accredited investors are limited to Reg A and Reg CF, while most private offerings remain inaccessible. Pending legislation could relax accredited‑investor thresholds, adding a...
Fintech Rundown: A Rapid Review of Weekly News
Finovate’s weekly roundup highlights a flurry of fintech activity as Flywire names a new CTO, MoneyHash teams with Wayl to enter Iraq, and Payabli partners with Huntington Bank to embed payments in digital banking. Worldline launches One Commerce for omnichannel...
Fintech Focused Banking as a Service Is Reshaping Bank Stability and Consumer Expectations : Analysis
Cornell Law professor Dan Awrey released a working paper titled "Banking, Technology, and Instability" analyzing fintech‑driven Banking‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS). The paper argues BaaS flips traditional outsourcing, with fintechs delegating core banking functions to partner banks, creating regulatory arbitrage. This shift destabilizes...
Bitcoin Whales Intensify Exchange Deposits During Extended Market Downturn : Analysis
On‑chain data shows Bitcoin whales are funneling record‑size deposits into centralized exchanges as the market endures a prolonged bear phase in early 2026. The exchange whale ratio climbed to 0.64, the highest since 2015, while average deposit size reached 1.58 BTC,...
Trump's 'Board of Peace' Is Exploring a USD Stablecoin for Gaza: FT
A Trump‑initiated “Board of Peace” is studying a U.S.‑dollar‑pegged stablecoin for Gaza. Israeli entrepreneur Liran Tancman leads the effort, partnering with the 14‑member National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the UN Office of the High Representative. The digital...
Stablecore Marks Jack Henry Integration to Enable Stablecoin Payments And Acceptance
Stablecore has joined Jack Henry’s Fintech Integration Network, allowing its stablecoin and digital‑asset services to be delivered through the Banno digital‑banking platform used by over 1,000 banks and credit unions. The integration adds tokenized deposits, asset management and digital‑asset‑backed lending...
CPI Card Group CFO Exits
CPI Card Group announced that CFO Jeffrey Hochstadt will leave the role on Feb. 13, with senior vice president Terra Grantham stepping in as interim CFO. The transition occurs just weeks before the company’s Q4 and full‑year earnings release scheduled for...
FCA Chief Nikhil Rathi Confirms Regulatory Shift Away From New Rules in Candid Podcast Interview
FCA chief Nikhil Rathi told the inaugural Fairer Finance podcast that the regulator is moving away from drafting new rules, opting instead to lean on the existing Consumer Duty and supervisory tools. He framed the shift as an outcomes‑based approach,...
Article Adds Klarna Option and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 2/23/26
Klarna has partnered with Canadian furniture retailer Article to offer buy‑now‑pay‑later at checkout. Payments platform WanderWallet launched a QR‑code based service in Bolivia, targeting local payment habits. Gift‑card provider Tillo will now reward childcare spending through the Kindo platform. SignaPay...
Broadridge Eyes Synergy, Client Focus After Acquiring CQG
A record influx of Designated Contract Market applications is straining an already depleted CFTC staff, marking the fastest cadence of new exchange filings in modern history. Meanwhile, the London Stock Exchange completed its first transaction under the new PISCES framework,...
Is Ethereum Good Enough for Wall Street? If History Is Any Guide, the Answer Is Clear
Ethereum Denver returned with a subdued yet energetic vibe, drawing regulators like SEC Chair Gary Gensler and industry veterans. The conference highlighted Wall Street’s renewed push to build its own blockchain, Canton, as an alternative to Ethereum’s open platform. Meanwhile,...
Optiver and Virtu-Backed Optimal Market Technologies Options Execution Platform Launches
Optimal Market Technologies has launched a US listed options execution platform backed by Optiver, Virtu Financial, Akuna Capital and BSC Ventures. The FINRA‑approved broker‑dealer expects commercial availability later in Q1, initially serving retail options wholesalers, institutional broker‑dealers and large asset...
New German Firm to Offer ETF White Labelling
Chartered Investment, a German fintech, received BaFin approval to operate a regulated fund platform and launched Opus PRIME, a white‑label service for active and thematic ETFs. The subsidiary will also support tokenised fund units, leveraging AI and blockchain to streamline...
RemotePass Launches SpendCards to Eliminate Reimbursement Chaos for Global Teams
RemotePass, a global HR and payroll platform, introduced SpendCards, corporate cards tailored for distributed workforces in over 150 countries. The solution gives finance teams instant visibility, automated limits, real‑time categorization and eliminates cross‑border reimbursement tax liabilities. Employees can spend without...
Ari10 Parent Morphic Financial Group Secures Dutch MiCA License for EU Expansion
Morphic Financial Group, the London‑based parent of digital payments platform Ari10, has obtained a Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) licence through its Dutch subsidiary WEB3 Holding B.V. The Dutch regulator’s approval makes Morphic one of the first Central and Eastern European...
Mencía Bobo: From Financier To Trusted Trade Advisor
Santander has rolled out Invensa, an inventory‑finance solution that lets the bank hold physical stock for clients, easing balance‑sheet constraints amid volatile supply chains. The bank also introduced Navigator Global, a platform that blends financing with market intelligence to act...
Banks, Operators to Drive Africa’s Stablecoin Tipping Point
African banks and mobile network operators are poised to accelerate stablecoin adoption, turning the continent’s burgeoning mobile‑money ecosystem into a mainstream digital payments layer. Ripple’s Reece Merrick highlighted that once banks and telcos embed stablecoins in custody, payments and treasury...
Why Banks Are Struggling to Deliver ROI on AI Investments
Major banks have invested billions in generative AI, yet a MIT study shows 95% see no measurable return. Isolated task‑level gains have not translated into enterprise‑wide efficiency, leaving boards and CFOs uneasy. The root causes are the sequencing problem—guessing which...
Pine Labs Bags Multi-Year Digital Payments Mandate From BPCL, HPCL, IOCL
Pine Labs has secured multi‑year contracts with BPCL, HPCL and IOCL to deploy and manage digital‑payment infrastructure across India’s fuel retail network. The deals cover the rollout of roughly 130,000 payment acceptance devices and include ongoing maintenance and software upgrades....
BNP Paribas Asset Management Issues Tokenised Money Market Fund Share Class on Ethereum
BNP Paribas Asset Management issued a tokenised share class of a French‑domiciled money‑market fund on the public Ethereum blockchain, using its AssetFoundry™ platform. The pilot employs a permissioned access model, keeping transaction records public while restricting token holding and transfers...