Token.io's Gideon Fourie Appointed to Berlin Group openFinance Advisory Board
Token.io’s Managing Director Gideon Fourie has been appointed to the Berlin Group’s openFinance Advisory Board, effective Jan 1 2026. The Berlin Group, a pan‑European consortium of 26 payments players, is developing the openFinance API framework to extend services beyond PSD2. Fourie brings 25 years of payments expertise and will help shape standards for Pay by Bank and account‑to‑account (A2A) payments across Europe. Token.io’s infrastructure already serves over 567 million bank accounts.
Bitcoin Policy Institute, Fedi, Cornell to Study American Views on Financial Privacy
The Bitcoin Policy Institute, crypto‑wallet provider Fedi, and Cornell University’s Brooks School Tech Policy Institute have launched a two‑year research project to map American attitudes toward financial privacy, the trade‑offs they accept, and how regulation influences behavior. The study will...
Nomura-Backed Laser Digital Introduces Tokenized Bitcoin Yield-Bearing Fund
Laser Digital, backed by Nomura, launched the Laser Digital Bitcoin Diversified Yield Fund SP, the first natively tokenized Bitcoin yield fund. The fund, built with tokenization specialist KAIO and custodied by Komainu, aims to deliver more than 5% excess net...
Consumers Still Love Their Physical Cards Even as Digital Wallet Use Expands
Physical payment cards continue to dominate despite the rapid expansion of digital wallets, with over 80% of U.S. consumers still preferring cards at the point of sale. Contactless adoption is high—53% of shoppers favor tap‑to‑pay—but cards capture more than double...
Financial Stress Drives a 17-Point Jump in Digital Wallet Use
A PYMNTS Intelligence survey of 2,108 U.S. adults shows financial stress is driving a sharp rise in digital‑wallet usage. High‑stress consumers were more than twice as likely to use a wallet for their last retail purchase (28% vs. 11%) and...
Are Forex Cards a Smart Choice for Indian Students Studying Abroad?
Forex cards are prepaid travel cards that let Indian students load foreign currency at a fixed rate, use them for tuition, purchases, and cash withdrawals abroad. They offer advantages over traditional debit or credit cards, such as zero or low...
Who Is Behind RimalWasl? Explaining How Crypto Is Off-Ramped in Dubai. The Role Discreet Intermediaries Play.
Dubai’s crypto-friendly image masks a covert off‑ramping network called RimalWasl. The service uses intermediaries like GulfBridge and real‑estate developers to convert large crypto holdings into fiat, bypassing AML controls. Despite new VARA regulations, the network exploits regulatory gaps and alleged...
8 Things to Expect When Borrowing Money for the First Time
First‑time borrowers must navigate variable interest rates, documentation requirements, and hidden fees before committing to a loan. Lenders often impose tighter terms, such as lower amounts and shorter repayment periods, which can reshape monthly budgets. Timely repayments not only avoid...
Boku Revenue Rockets 29% as Digital Wallets Take Center Stage
Boku posted 2025 revenue of $128.5 million, a 29% jump from the prior year, driven by rapid adoption of digital wallets and its bundling product. Adjusted EBITDA rose 31% to $41 million, delivering a 32% margin that beat consensus forecasts. Cash on...
Kickstart 2026 Trading at Bitrue
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitrue has introduced the “Make Every Trade Count” promotion, running through February 5, 2026. The campaign offers a total prize pool of more than 200,000 XRP, with rewards allocated proportionally to traders who execute at least $100 in spot trades....
Thailand Plans Crypto ETF Rules as Institutional Interest Increases
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission is set to release formal guidelines for crypto exchange‑traded funds early this year, alongside rules for futures trading and tokenised products. The framework will treat digital assets as an official asset class, allowing investors to...
Don’t Bet on Institutional Investors to Run Bitcoin to $150K: Researcher
Macro researcher Luke Gromen warns that institutional investors are unlikely to drive Bitcoin from its current ~$89,880 level to a $150,000 target without a significant market catalyst. A 67% price jump would require events such as the US CLARITY Act...
Ripple Receives FCA Approval in the UK: New Way for Investors to Earn 5,000 XRP Daily
Ripple has secured approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority, giving XRP a clear regulatory footing in Europe’s core financial market. The FCA clearance is expected to accelerate institutional adoption of XRP across the continent and beyond. Simultaneously, UK‑based DogeStaking...
Solutions and Fixes
The article outlines a six‑step playbook for financial‑services firms to close the widening technology and operational gap caused by legacy systems and fragmented estates. It starts with an honest inventory of assets and deficits, then stresses disciplined planning, relentless focus,...
Finance Reimagined – Evolution of Digitization and AI in Finance
Abhishek Nanda, a finance‑tech veteran who has sourced $5 billion in deals, released "Finance Reimagined: Digital Tools and AI for Planning, M&A, and Investing." The book chronicles finance automation from the 1979 VisiCalc spreadsheet to today’s AI‑driven platforms, offering a roadmap...
First Abu Dhabi Bank Launches ‘World-First’ Fitness and Payment Ring with Mastercard
First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has introduced the FAB Rewards Active Credit Card, a joint venture with Mastercard that bundles a contactless payment ring with fitness tracking. The ring uses tokenisation technology from Tappy and syncs with the FAB Mobile...
Ripple News: Can XRP Recapture $2 This Week As Cryptocurrencies Continue To Tumble Following Renewed Tariff Talks
Ripple’s XRP slipped to $1.91, a 3.24% decline, as renewed tariff negotiations stoked broader crypto volatility. Trading volume dropped 12.73% to $3.37 billion, reflecting heightened risk aversion among short‑term traders. Meanwhile, utility‑focused project Remittix gained traction, launching its wallet on the...
No Deal yet with Dems on Crypto Bill, Senator Boozman Confirms
The Senate Agriculture Committee released a Republican draft of a crypto market‑structure bill that adds liability protections for DeFi developers and other intermediaries. Chair John Boozman said Republicans and Democrats still differ on core policy issues, leaving the bill without...
Reminder: When Fuel, Grocery Retailers Are Required to Accept Cash
The Australian Government’s cash‑mandate, effective this month, requires fuel and grocery retailers to accept cash for in‑person purchases of $500 or less between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Small businesses with annual turnover under $10 million are exempt unless they operate under a...
Pinecone Matches INIBOX: The Ultimate Guide to High-Performance Mining
Pinecone Matches has launched the INIBOX (850 Mh) ASIC miner, delivering 850 megahashes per second in a compact, rack‑compatible chassis. The unit consumes 500 W, features dual‑zone intelligent cooling, and supports 24/7 continuous operation for professional mining farms. Oneminers.com is identified as the...
Crypto Could Hit $28T by 2030 on Bitcoin, DeFi, Tokenization: ARK
ARK Invest’s "Big Ideas 2026" report projects the cryptocurrency market to reach $28 trillion by 2030, driven by a 61% CAGR. Bitcoin alone could account for 70% of that value, with price targets near $1 million as institutional holdings rise. Smart‑contract platforms...
United Airlines Distinguishes Between Loyalty, Rewards Programs
United Airlines reported a 10% year‑over‑year increase in loyalty‑related revenue for Q4 and a 9% rise for the full 2025 fiscal year. Executive vice president Andrew Nocella emphasized the distinction between true loyalty programs and generic rewards, citing low member...
Scammers Impersonate Nabtrade's Tom Piotrowsk to Endorse Bogus Investments
Australian bank NAB warns that scammers are impersonating its analyst Tom Piotrowsk, contributing to a 15 percent rise in investment fraud. The bank says 70 percent of losses start on social‑media platforms, where fraudsters use urgency and fake endorsements to lure victims. Scams...
Governor of Florida Criticizes EU Ambition to Issue a CBDC or Digital Euro
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis used X to denounce the European Central Bank’s digital Euro, warning it would enable unprecedented surveillance of financial transactions. The ECB has earmarked a digital Euro as its top project for 2026, with a pilot slated...
Micro Exemption Bill, the SEED Act, Moves to Markup in House Financial Services Committee
The Small Entrepreneurs Empowerment and Development (SEED) Act, HR 4171, is slated for a markup hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on January 22, 2026. The bill creates a micro‑exemption allowing private firms to raise up to $250,000 in...
Visa Forecasts AI Adoption and Shifting Trade Patterns Driving Economic Transformation in 2026
Visa’s 2026 Global Economic Outlook projects 2.7% worldwide GDP growth, a modest dip from 2025, while highlighting deep structural shifts. The report shows rapid generative‑AI adoption by small businesses driving higher transaction volumes. It also notes a move toward intra‑regional...
Pearler, Alpaca Partner to Provide Long-Term Investing Solutions for Australian Investors
Pearler, an Australian wealth‑building platform, has partnered with US broker Alpaca to give users seamless access to U.S. stocks and ETFs via Alpaca’s Broker API. The integration introduces fractional‑share trading, real‑time AUD‑USD conversion and automated portfolio tools, extending Pearler’s focus...
Chainalysis Introduces Workflows, a No-Code Automation Solution for Enhanced Blockchain Insights
Chainalysis has launched Workflows, a no‑code automation layer inside its Data Solutions platform, allowing users without programming skills to run sophisticated blockchain analyses. The feature converts multi‑hour or multi‑day investigations into rapid, guided processes by leveraging Chainalysis’s extensive on‑chain dataset....
Apple Prepares to Bring Apple Pay to India
Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in India later this year, negotiating with Mastercard and Visa while seeking regulatory clearance from the Reserve Bank of India. The initial rollout will focus on card‑based contactless payments, with a later phase...
Mike Cagney of Figure Technology Solutions Emphasizes Need to Critically Evaluate Potential of Blockchain Use-Cases
Mike Cagney, co‑founder and executive chairman of Figure Technology Solutions, highlighted the company’s On‑chain Public Equity Network (OPEN) as a concrete blockchain use‑case for equity markets. OPEN lets investors trade stocks directly from crypto wallets, bypassing brokers and traditional exchanges....
Regtech Jumio Improves Online Gaming Experience via New Partnership
Jumio announced Bala Kumar as its new President and interim CEO, succeeding Robert Prigge after a decade at the helm. The regtech firm also unveiled a partnership with Romanian online gaming operator WINBET to integrate AI‑driven KYC, biometric verification and real‑time...
Truist Settles 15-Year-Old Legal Saga, Causing Earnings Hit
Truist Financial agreed to settle a 15‑year overdraft‑fee class action, committing up to $240 million, including $130 million in legal fees. The settlement and $63 million in severance expenses shaved 12 cents from fourth‑quarter earnings per share, causing the bank to miss analysts’...
Ally Beats Estimates but Sees Economic Trouble Ahead
Ally Financial posted a Q4 2025 net income of $327 million, surpassing the $313.9 million consensus, while earnings per share of $0.95 fell short of estimates. Adjusted EPS reached $1.09, reflecting one‑time layoff costs and mortgage loan sales. The lender warned that...
Bank OZK Says Spike in Charge-Offs Is No Cause for Alarm
Bank OZK’s commercial‑real‑estate (CRE) portfolio saw net charge‑offs jump to 1.18% in Q4 2025, the highest since the financial‑crisis era. The bank had already doubled its allowance for credit losses to $632 million, cushioning profitability, which slipped 3.5% to $171.9 million for the...
Alloy Unveils Perpetual KYB and Customer Risk Assessment
Alloy, the identity orchestration platform, has introduced its first perpetual Know Your Business (pKYB) and Customer Risk Assessment (CRA) solution across the UK and Europe. The offering builds on its earlier perpetual KYC product and uses AI‑driven continuous monitoring to...
Citizens Lays Out Tech Overhaul, Says Profit Goals Are Close
Citizens Financial Group unveiled a three‑year "Reimagine the Bank" technology program that targets $450 million in annualized run‑rate benefits, yet the bank insists its profitability goals do not depend on the overhaul. The initiative, which allocates $250 million in implementation spending and...
Fiserv Bets on Japan's Digital Initiative; Klarna Deepens Walmart Ties
Fiserv has sealed a partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company to introduce its Clover point‑of‑sale system to Japanese merchants, aligning with a government push to slash cash usage by 65% over four years. The deal, slated for late‑2026, is a...
Regions and Worldpay Team to Help Businesses Manage Cash Flow
Regions Bank announced a partnership with payments technology firm Worldpay to create an integrated platform that streamlines payment acceptance and cash‑flow management for its business customers. The solution adds omnichannel processing, anti‑fraud tools, dispute and charge‑back handling, and compliance services,...
Visa Launches A2A Payments Partnership With Acquired.com
Visa has partnered with Acquired.com to launch Visa A2A, an account‑to‑account payment solution for recurring and variable payments in the U.K. The service uses Faster Payments to settle transactions in real time while Visa supplies operational governance and a commercial...
How Wealth Management Can Help You With Assets
Wealth management extends beyond simple budgeting, offering a holistic financial plan that integrates investments, tax strategies, insurance, and estate considerations. Professionals assess risk, diversify assets, and create tax‑efficient structures to protect and grow client wealth. Personalized guidance adapts to life...
Private Credit May Be the Breakout Use Case for Tokenization: Maple's Sidney Powell
Maple Finance CEO Sidney Powell argues that tokenized private credit will become the breakout use case for blockchain tokenization, outpacing hype around treasuries and money‑market funds. The private‑credit market is expanding as banks retreat and non‑bank lenders fill the gap,...
Interest Rate Caps Shift Credit Access, the Fed Finds
The New York Fed’s study of state‑level credit‑card interest caps (up to 36%) shows that such limits don’t shrink overall credit but shift it away from subprime borrowers, cutting their account numbers by 20% and balances by 16.9% without lowering...
Justices Wary of Trump's Urgent Need to Remove Fed's Cook
The Supreme Court heard arguments on President Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, questioning the breadth of presidential removal power under the Federal Reserve Act. Justices expressed skepticism toward the Justice Department’s claim that the president can...
The Architects: Regulation as a Competitive Advantage in Fintech
Fintech innovators are learning that proactive regulatory engagement can be a competitive edge, as discussed in a This Week in Fintech podcast with former NYDFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris and AIR CEO Jo Ann Barefoot. Harris outlines a two‑track modernization that...
Rediscovering Excitement in Everyday Digital Evolutions
Digital finance has shifted from clunky, slow interfaces to frictionless, instant experiences through a series of incremental upgrades. Contactless payments, real‑time peer‑to‑peer transfers, and AI‑driven security alerts now feel routine, turning everyday transactions into quiet moments of wonder. The article...
Social Labs AI Debuts in Southeast Asia, Selecting Indonesia as Strategic Hub for Regional Enterprise Deployment
Social Labs AI, a San Francisco‑based behavioral intelligence firm, announced its entry into Southeast Asia by establishing Indonesia as its regional hub. The company will deploy its proprietary SEA™ (Sentient Exposure Amplifier) and NRM™ (Neural Redirect Matrix) platforms in closed‑access...
Prediction Markets Hit New TVL High as Polymarket Tops $330 Million
Crypto prediction markets broke a new TVL record, surpassing $550 million, according to DefiLlama data. Polymarket remains the dominant platform with roughly $330 million locked, while OPINION and Predict Fun trail at $155 million and $21.7 million respectively. Off‑chain player Kalshi led trading activity, generating...
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins: Israel Has Punched Far Above Its Weight in Ways that Defy Easy Explanation”
SEC Chairman Paul Atkins praised Israel’s innovation ecosystem during a speech at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. He emphasized that Israel generates the highest number of startups per capita and ranks second globally in venture‑capital per capita, despite its small...
Professional Crypto Recovery: Essential Steps & Services
A New York Times report highlighted an early Bitcoin investor who lost access to a $220 million stash after forgetting his wallet password, underscoring the high‑stakes nature of self‑custody. The article explains that only when the encrypted wallet file is available can a...
BlackRock Names Crypto and Tokenization as ‘Themes Driving Markets’ in 2026
BlackRock’s 2026 Thematic Outlook places cryptocurrency and tokenization alongside AI and energy infrastructure as key market‑driving themes. The firm highlights its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as the fastest‑growing ETF ever, now exceeding $70 billion in assets. Tokenization of real‑world assets—especially on...