Here Is the List of Bills Being Reviewed in House Financial Services Committee Markup Hearing
On January 22, 2026 the House Financial Services Committee held a markup hearing reviewing ten bipartisan bills that span artificial intelligence, financial reporting thresholds, small‑issuer capital formation, cyber‑money‑laundering enforcement, community‑bank regulation, ESG disclosure, secondary market rules, and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. The Republican‑led House is poised to pass many of these measures before sending them to the Senate. Key proposals include raising currency‑transaction reporting limits, creating a micro‑offering exemption for small businesses, and expanding Secret Service authority over digital‑asset crimes. The agenda reflects a broader push to modernize finance regulation and support emerging technologies.
Crowdfunding: The ACCESS Act Targets Lower Compliance Costs for Small Reg CF Raises
Bipartisan senators introduced the ACCESS Act to raise the independent accountant review threshold for Regulation Crowdfunding offerings from roughly $124,000 to $250,000, with the SEC empowered to lift it further to $400,000. The bill, already passed by the House and...
Morocco Fintech Woliz Raises $2.2m Pre-Seed Led By Sanlam Maroc
Moroccan fintech Woliz raised $2.2 million in a pre‑seed round led by insurer Sanlam Maroc. The capital will accelerate product development and expand its digital ecosystem for neighbourhood merchants across Morocco before a pan‑African rollout. Woliz aims to digitise shop operations, streamline...
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....
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...
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...
Global Fintech Airwallex to Enable Arsenal Hospitality Payments and Improve Supporter Experience
Airwallex has become Arsenal Football Club’s Official Software Partner, embedding its Payments Acceptance platform into the stadium’s hospitality operations. The integration will streamline premium seating, corporate suite and VIP perk transactions, delivering faster, friction‑free payments for fans. The deal is...
Alkami Launches 1-Click SDK Manager
Alkami has introduced a One‑Click SDK Manager that lets financial‑institution developers self‑manage staging and production deployments. The tool consolidates validation, dependency checks, scheduling and rollout tracking into a single, guided workflow, cutting friction and accelerating time‑to‑market. By shifting deployment ownership...
Digital Bank OakNorth Provides Loan to EAG Bioenergy to Support Bioenergy Asset Acquisition Strategy
OakNorth, the digital‑bank focused on mid‑market companies, has extended a sizable loan to EAG Bioenergy to fund its bioenergy asset acquisition strategy. The financing adds to OakNorth’s cumulative loan portfolio, which now exceeds $18 billion and has driven significant job creation....
Crypto Exchange OKX Reports YoY Increase in Digital Assets Trading Volume, DEX Activity
OKX reported a 16% year‑over‑year increase in centralized exchange trading volume and a 262% surge in decentralized exchange activity, pushing its user base beyond 120 million. The platform bolstered transparency with monthly Proof of Reserves showing $31.5 billion in assets and partnerships...
Tether Teams Up with Digital Assets Platform Bitqik to Support Stablecoin Focused Initiatives in Laos
Tether announced two strategic collaborations aimed at expanding stablecoin adoption and digital‑asset literacy in emerging markets. In Laos, it partnered with regulated platform Bitqik to deliver workshops, online resources and seminars targeting over 10,000 students and entrepreneurs. Simultaneously, Tether joined...
Dealmaker 2025 Recap: $500 Million Raised
Dealmaker, a tech‑enabled broker‑dealer, reported processing over $500 million in capital for 2025, equating to roughly $57,000 raised each hour. The firm’s Reg A offerings surged 157% year‑over‑year, with the three largest rounds—Newsmax $75 million, Pacaso $72.5 million, and Mode Mobile $53.5 million—driving the bulk...
Digital Banking : Brazil’s Nubank Remains Focused on Financial Inclusion, Improving UX, LatAm Markets
Nubank announced a suite of new initiatives in 2026 aimed at deepening financial inclusion and enhancing user experience across Latin America. Partnerships with Uber, iFood, Shopee, OpenAI and Burger King helped customers avoid $29 million in expenses in 2025. The bank’s...
Funding Circle Introduces Digital Tools for SMBs, Appoints New Chief Legal Officer
Funding Circle announced two strategic moves in January 2026. It appointed Sarah Whiteley, a veteran legal executive, as Chief Legal Officer, replacing long‑time incumbent Lucy Vernall. The fintech also launched a beta version of its Cashback business credit card, now...
Trump Media Sets Date for Shareholders to Receive Reward Tokens
Trump Media announced that shareholders will receive reward tokens on February 2, 2026, the record date for the distribution. The company partnered with Crypto.com to issue and custody the non‑transferable tokens, which are not securities and cannot be exchanged for cash. Token...
RedStone Acquires Security Token Market (STM.co) and TokenizeThis Conference
RedStone announced the acquisition of Security Token Market (STM.co) and its flagship TokenizeThis conference, aiming to accelerate growth in the United States. STM.co operates a data, media, and research platform focused on tokenized real‑world assets, complementing RedStone’s enterprise‑grade oracle and...
Crypto.com, EmCoin Partner to Enhance Digital Assets Trading Capabilities for UAE Clients
Crypto.com has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EmCoin, a UAE‑licensed digital‑asset platform, to give EmCoin’s clients access to Crypto.com’s global liquidity and infrastructure. The partnership promises tighter spreads, broader cryptocurrency offerings, and the potential to tokenize real‑world assets on...
UK Finance Report Examines Fraud Prevention and AML Efforts
UK Finance’s latest report warns that 2023 fraud losses reached £25.2 billion, exposing the flaws of siloed fraud and AML systems. It promotes a unified FRAML framework that blends machine‑learning‑driven fraud detection with anti‑money‑laundering compliance to cut alerts and accelerate investigations....
UK’s Digital Bank Monzo Makes Leadership Adjustments, Introduces Tax Tools
Monzo announced a revised leadership plan, keeping outgoing CEO TS Anil in a broader board role after investor pushback, while appointing former Google executive Diana Layfield as his successor. The fintech also launched an in‑app tax‑filing tool for sole traders...
UK’s FCA Aims to Support Integration of Stablecoins Into Payments Landscape
The UK Financial Conduct Authority is launching a two‑day "Stablecoin Sprint" on March 4‑5, 2026 in London, inviting fintechs, banks, issuers and regulators to shape stablecoin payment standards. The event targets retail, remittance and B2B use cases, aiming to create faster, cheaper...
Checkout.com Focuses on US Expansion with Approval for Georgia Bank Charter
Checkout.com secured a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank charter from Georgia, allowing it to operate as an independent acquirer in the United States. The approval paves the way for a new Atlanta operational center, complementing its New York and San...
Payments Canada to Focus on Enterprise-Wide Product Development Strategy with Key Appointment
Payments Canada has appointed Stephanie Zee as chief product officer, tasking her with an enterprise‑wide product strategy to modernize Canada’s payment systems. Zee brings over two decades of payments expertise and prior board experience, positioning her to oversee product management,...
AI Adoption : Colossus 2 Supercomputer for Grok Now Operational, Will Have Significant Implications for Fintech Platforms
xAI has brought its Colossus 2 supercomputer online, becoming the world’s first gigawatt‑level AI training cluster and targeting 1.5 GW by April. The facility powers the Grok model with energy comparable to a major city, outpacing rivals who plan similar sites for...
Meta Castigated for Illegal Canadian Debt Relief Ads
Meta faces criticism from a Canadian licensed insolvency trustee after $20 million in 2023 was paid to unlicensed debt‑relief advertisers on Facebook and Instagram. Despite repeated outreach, evidence, and federal warnings, the ads remain live, prompting calls for accountability. The Office...
Morgan Stanley Now Focused on Digital Assets, Private Market Investments
Morgan Stanley is reshaping its wealth‑management platform for 2026 by centering digital assets, workplace financial services, and private‑market access. The firm will launch crypto trading on E*Trade with Zerohash in the first half of 2026 and introduce a proprietary digital...
Aether’s Alpha Edge Media Acquires Institutional Crypto Newsletter Coinstack
Aether Holdings’ Alpha Edge Media has acquired Coinstack, an institutional‑focused cryptocurrency newsletter with more than 340,000 subscribers. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, allows Coinstack to retain its brand while tapping Aether’s technology, analytics infrastructure, and distribution network....
UK Small Businesses Face Growing Pessimism Amid Economic Challenges, Report Reveals
European fintech iwoca reports a sharp drop in UK SME confidence, with optimism falling to 38% from 51% in a year. Hiring intentions have weakened, as only 45% of small‑business leaders plan to expand staff in 2026, a ten‑point decline....
Euroclear Completes Integration of MFEX Platform
Euroclear announced the full integration of MFEX into its operations effective January 1, 2026, merging MFEX’s fund‑distribution technology with Euroclear’s settlement and custody infrastructure. The combined platform, now part of Euroclear FundsPlace, offers a single‑entry point for mutual funds, alternative funds, private...
World Network Makes Italian Market Debut After Making Steady Progress in Past Year
World announced its Italian market debut on January 15, expanding its human verification network to a fifth EU country. The company now serves nearly 38 million users, with over 17 million verified identities across six continents. Recent upgrades include NVIDIA‑powered hardware, an...
Digital Assets : TRON (TRX) Network Now Supported on MetaMask
MetaMask has expanded its multichain wallet to include the TRON (TRX) network, allowing users to manage TRX and TRC‑10/20 tokens directly within the app. The update introduces native staking on mobile, where holders can lock TRX to earn Bandwidth and...
PayEngine, ServiceTitan Bring Tap-To-Pay to Field Service Techs
PayEngine and ServiceTitan have teamed up to embed SoftPOS tap‑to‑pay functionality directly into ServiceTitan’s field‑service platform. The integration lets HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other contractors accept contactless card payments on their existing smartphones or tablets, eliminating the need for separate...
Checkbook Names Co-CEOs
Checkbook, a digital‑payment platform, appointed Pia Thompson and Aditya Raikar as co‑CEOs, succeeding founder PJ Gupta who remains executive chairman. Thompson, the company’s general counsel, and Raikar, its chief revenue officer, bring over 30 years of combined fintech experience in...
Insight, Stripe, Expand Tech Partnership
Insight (NASDAQ: NSIT) announced an expanded global partnership with Stripe to modernize legacy financial systems and enable AI‑driven commerce for large enterprises. The collaboration blends Stripe’s programmable payments platform with Insight’s systems‑integration expertise, delivering end‑to‑end checkout, billing, subscription and agentic...
Accertify Names Dukat CEO, Adds to Leadership Team
Accertify announced Greg Dukat as its new chief executive officer, adding a seasoned technology leader to its ranks. Dukat, who previously led Revel Systems and other firms, will steer the company’s commercial strategy alongside President Mark Michelon. The announcement also...
Schroders Capital Enhances Private Debt Capabilities with New Investment Director Appointment
Schroders Capital has appointed Brad Ross‑Williams as Investment Director for its Securitized Products and Asset‑Based Finance team, reinforcing its private debt capabilities. The hire adds a veteran with over 20 years in structured finance and investor relations, most recently at...
Eco CEO Says Crypto Market Infrastructure Bill Fail Exposes Critical Gap Between Policymakers and Digital Asset Innovators
The Senate Banking Committee halted a markup hearing after Coinbase withdrew its backing for the crypto market infrastructure bill, leaving the legislation in limbo. ECO CEO Ryne Saxe says the delay highlights a widening gap between lawmakers and DeFi innovators,...
Bain & Company, 7 VCs, Announce AI Partnership
Bain & Company has teamed up with seven top venture‑capital firms—Bain Capital Ventures, Battery Ventures, ICONIQ, Insight Partners, Lightspeed, Menlo Ventures and NEA—to create a dedicated AI pipeline through its Venture Ecosystem. The VCs collectively manage roughly $190 billion in assets...
Central Bank of Ireland and Banca D’Italia Introduce Innovation Data Challenge to Enhance Payments
The Central Bank of Ireland unveiled a multi‑year regulatory overhaul aimed at simplifying rules, harmonising with EU standards, and strengthening supervision. The plan introduces a risk‑focused, cross‑functional supervisory model, a dedicated gatekeeping unit, and a streamlined data‑reporting framework. In January...
Digital Asset Firm Meld Closes $7M Round
Meld announced the close of a $7 million strategic funding round led by Lightspeed Faction, with participation from F‑Prime, Yolo Investments, and Scytale Digital. The capital will accelerate Meld’s go‑to‑market push, expand the Meld Network, and deepen its customer‑success capabilities. Meld’s platform...
Singapore Gulf Bank Gains J.P. Morgan Clearing Network Access
Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB) has opened a correspondent banking account with J.P. Morgan, gaining direct access to the firm’s extensive USD clearing network. The partnership introduces J.P. Morgan Payments’ Wire 365 solution, delivering near‑real‑time, 365‑day USD clearing for cross‑border transactions. By merging this...
Benji Pays Unveils Integrated Payment Solution with Adyen Partnership
Benji Pays launched Benji Payments, an integrated payment solution built on Adyen for Platforms. The offering lets SMBs and managed service providers choose a turnkey system or connect existing gateways, while adding automated reconciliation, customizable surcharging, and in‑app merchant onboarding....
Animoca Brands Expands Web3 Portfolio with Acquisition of SOMO
Animoca Brands has completed its acquisition of SOMO, a crypto‑collectibles and interactive entertainment startup. The deal adds gacha‑style on‑chain games to Animoca’s portfolio, which already includes The Sandbox, Open Campus and the Moca Network. By integrating SOMO’s technology, Animoca aims...
Apex Fintech Solutions Partners with Allfunds to Boost Global Offshore Investment Opportunities
Fintech firm Apex Solutions has partnered with European wealth‑tech provider Allfunds to embed its fund distribution platform into Apex’s AscendOS infrastructure. The integration will give U.S. broker‑dealers, RIAs and fintech companies a single point of access to offshore mutual funds,...
Crypto Exchange BTCC Claims to Have Booked $5 Billion in Tokenized Gold Trading Volume
Vilnius‑based crypto exchange BTCC announced it traded $5.72 billion in tokenized gold during 2025, surpassing the $5 billion milestone. The fourth quarter alone generated $2.74 billion, an 809 % increase from Q1. BTCC also reported $53.1 billion in total tokenized gold futures volume, driven by...
InRento CEO Gustas Germanavicius’ 3 2026 European Proptech Investing Trends
European real‑estate is at a crossroads as land scarcity and abundant household savings drive investors toward income‑generating assets. InRento CEO Gustas Germanavicius identifies three 2026 trends—sustainability mandates, building conversions, and fractional ownership—that will reshape the market. Stricter ESG rules are...