Banking App ‘Zero’ Stops Trading and Will Close All Accounts
Zero, the UK‑based ethical banking app launched in early 2025, announced it will cease trading on March 18 after failing to secure additional venture funding. The company will close all user accounts and has set a March 31 deadline for customers to withdraw their deposits before the platform shuts down. The collapse underscores that a strong sustainability narrative cannot compensate for insufficient scale, capital, or a clear path to profitability. It also highlights growing trust risks for mission‑driven fintechs in a tightening funding environment.
SumUp Expands Into the Accounting Market With a Free Making Tax Digital Tool
SumUp has launched a free, in‑platform accounting solution for UK merchants, powered by Sage, to help them meet the Making Tax Digital (MTD) income‑tax requirements that take effect in April 2026. The tool automates income‑tax calculations and filing, embedding compliance...
Sei Partners With Xiaomi for a Pre-Installed Mobile Stablecoin Payment App
The episode highlights Sei's partnership with Xiaomi to pre‑install a stablecoin payment app on millions of devices outside China and the US, signaling a major push for mainstream crypto adoption. It also covers broader fintech news, including BBVA's rollout of...
FinTech Plum Follows Klarna in Securing E-Money Licence
The episode reviews recent fintech developments, highlighting Plum’s acquisition of an e‑money licence—allowing it to offer banking‑like services such as transfers, prepaid cards and digital wallets to its 2 million users—alongside other notable moves like Flatpay’s door‑to‑door sales push, Worldline’s divestment...