UK’s Starling Bank Focuses on Global Growth with Software Sales to US Lenders
Starling Bank is shifting its growth strategy by selling its Engine banking software to U.S. lenders, targeting regional banks with $5‑50 billion in assets. The fintech has hired Deloitte and PwC to scout partners and expects its first U.S. client by early 2025. Engine aims for £100 million in annual recurring revenue, up from £3.4 million this year, while a $50 million investment funds a New York office of 20‑25 staff. This software‑licensing model bypasses the regulatory hurdles of overseas banking licences.
Revolut Strengthens Internal Group Managing Share Sales Without Wall Street Banks
Revolut is expanding an internal team to run secondary share sales, moving away from reliance on Wall Street banks. A recent in‑house transaction lifted the fintech's valuation from $45 billion to $75 billion, a roughly 67% jump. The company is hiring former...
1inch Survey Finds DeFi Optimism High
A 1inch‑led survey of 8,199 DeFi participants shows strong optimism heading into 2026, with 72% globally positive and U.S. respondents the most confident at 83%. Asian markets lag behind, reporting optimism in the mid‑60s. The study also reveals that experienced...
MassPay Integrates TaxBandits Capability
MassPay announced a partnership with TaxBandits to embed full‑stack tax compliance into its payout orchestration platform. The integration adds automated 1099 and 1042 form generation, streamlined W‑8/W‑9 collection, and real‑time IRS TIN matching directly into the payment workflow. By consolidating...
Letter to Trade Associations: Independent Assessment to Support Establishment of a Future Entity – Financial Conduct Authority |…
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has sent a formal letter to major trade associations urging them to commission an independent assessment that will underpin the creation of a new "Future Entity" aimed at modernising financial market infrastructure. The FCA expects...
Oro Raises $3M to Make Housing an Employee Benefit
Oro, a social fintech platform, secured $3 million in a round led by Slauson & Co., with participation from Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures and Bronze Valley. The funding coincides with the launch of its employee housing wellness platform, which lets employers offer rent‑reporting,...
Gen Digital, Equifax Partner to Offer Tools for Managing Finances and Online Security
Gen Digital and Equifax announced an expanded partnership that blends Equifax’s consumer financial and fraud data with Gen’s AI‑driven security platforms, including Norton, Avast, LifeLock and MoneyLion. The integration will enhance identity protection, deliver personalized financial advice, and enrich Equifax’s...
Vermiculus Provides Real-Time Clearing System For Brazil
Vermiculus has launched its VeriClear real‑time clearing platform on Brazil’s CERC, the country’s largest financial market infrastructure by transaction volume. The cloud‑native, microservice‑based system enables CERC to clear and settle multiple asset classes instantly, including netted and delivery‑versus‑payment trades. Delivered...
Fintech Company Alkami Is Reportedly Considering Strategic Sale with Adviser
Alkami Technology Inc., a cloud‑based digital banking platform provider, has launched a strategic review that could culminate in a sale. The move follows activist investor Jana Partners’ pressure after Alkami’s stock fell roughly 40% in 2025 despite solid revenue growth...
UK Finance Shares Insights on AI, Privacy Tech, Blockchain Adoption
UK Finance highlighted a surge in AI and blockchain adoption across the UK financial sector in 2026, noting a partnership of thirty banks with SWIFT to embed distributed‑ledger technology and the creation of an AI Consortium by the Bank of...
Swiss vs US IPO Listings Analyzed in Whitepaper From SIX Stock Exchange
SIX Group’s new white paper challenges the default view that U.S. exchanges are the optimal venue for IPOs, presenting the Swiss Exchange as a competitive alternative. It highlights that Swiss listings can tap U.S. investors through Rule 144A offerings, leverage a...
Cross River Bank Extends $100M Credit Line to MidOcean for Home Equity Investments
Cross River Bank has extended a $100 million revolving credit facility to an investment vehicle managed by MidOcean Partners, using home‑equity investment agreements from Point Digital Finance as collateral. The line gives MidOcean flexible capital to grow its portfolio, complementing a...
Global Fintech Airwallex Launches Operations in Germany
Australian‑origin fintech Airwallex has officially launched its services in Germany, extending its European expansion. Leveraging its Dutch e‑money licence, the company offers instant cross‑border transfers, multi‑currency accounts and localized payment processing, positioning itself against Wise, Adyen and Stripe. Airwallex aims...
Payoneer Adds Indonesian, Mexican Services
Payoneer announced new local collection capabilities in Indonesia and expanded peso collection services in Mexico, allowing SMBs to receive payments from domestic e‑commerce platforms more quickly and cheaply. The rollout leverages partnerships with local providers to give merchants direct access...
New York Attorney General Issues Warning on Risks of Unregulated Prediction Markets Ahead of Super Bowl
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning that unregulated prediction‑market platforms lack the safeguards of licensed gambling operators, especially as the Super Bowl approaches. These markets allow real‑money wagers on sports and political events without oversight,...
Bitcoin Craters. How Low Can It Go?
Bitcoin slipped to roughly $67,000, its lowest level since October 2024, reigniting fears of a deeper correction. Analysts such as Nic Puckrin and Ruslan Lienkha point to massive whale sell‑offs and leveraged positions as the primary drivers of the decline,...
Valon Technologies, Figure Partner to Enhance Loan Origination by Harnessing AI, Blockchain Tech
Valon Technologies and Figure Technology Solutions have deepened their partnership to integrate AI and blockchain across loan origination and servicing. Early A/B testing shows a 40% improvement in delinquency management, while Figure’s blockchain tools drove a 23.3‑fold increase in originations...
AI Is Driving Revenue Gains in Financial Services While Slashing Costs, Report Claims
Nvidia's 2026 State of AI in Financial Services report finds 89% of surveyed professionals see AI driving revenue growth while cutting costs. AI adoption has risen sharply, with 65% of firms actively deploying AI, up from 45% last year, and...
Bitwise Introduces Model Portfolios for Digital Asset Investments
Bitwise Asset Management announced Model Portfolio Solutions for digital assets on February 3, 2026. The suite offers seven pre‑designed crypto portfolios—four Core and three Thematic—aimed at advisors seeking to integrate ETFs into client allocations. With $15 billion in assets under management, Bitwise leverages...
ACAMS Report Analyzes 2026’s Top Financial Crime Threats
ACAMS released its 2026 Global Anti‑Financial Crime Threats Report, surveying 1,400 professionals across 200+ jurisdictions. The study identifies generative AI and large language models as the top external risk, with 75% rating it high or very high. AI‑powered identity fraud,...
Nordic Capital Markets Are Flourishing Due to Structural Advantages : Analysis
Citi’s analysis highlights that Nordic capital markets are poised for sustained growth through 2026, thanks to a combination of high financial literacy, favorable tax regimes, and massive sovereign‑wealth assets. The region’s investor ecosystem, anchored by defined‑contribution pension funds and a...
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) Pursues Fintech Focused Initiative
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority unveiled a Fintech Promotion Blueprint that shifts focus from basic digital adoption to advanced AI, distributed ledger technology and quantum‑ready solutions. Four flagship programmes will assess quantum readiness, refine risk‑related data governance, standardise fintech cybersecurity...
London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and China’s ICBC to Extend Cooperation
London Stock Exchange Group and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Beijing, coinciding with the UK Prime Minister’s visit. The MoU deepens a long‑standing partnership and targets joint development in global markets, data...
IG Group Finalizes Acquisition of Independent Reserve, Enabling Crypto Focused Expansion in Key Markets
IG Group Holdings plc has finalized its purchase of crypto exchange Independent Reserve after securing approval from Singapore’s Monetary Authority. The deal, first announced in September 2025, gives IG a foothold in regulated digital‑asset markets across Singapore, Australia and the...
Fintech Adyen and Fresha Surpass $5.5M in Capital Issued as Embedded Finance Expansion Scales
Adyen and Fresha have launched Fresha Capital, an embedded lending service that has already disbursed more than $5.5 million in loans across seven key markets. The product offers credit from $500 to $50,000 with repayment tied to daily sales, delivering funds...
France : AMF Releases Insights on Enhancing Clarity in Structured Products for Retail Investors
France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) released a working‑group report aimed at making structured products more transparent for retail investors. The guidance focuses on improving brochure language, using precise terminology, and adding performance simulations and clear fee disclosures. It also...
Kingscrowd Offers Fund of More Mature, Profitable Private Firms
Kingscrowd has launched the Capital Profitability Fund, a $5 million vehicle aimed at mature private companies that are already profitable. The fund will invest in 25‑30 firms with revenues above $1 million and revenue multiples under 7.5×, targeting exits within three to...
Switzerland’s SIX Stock Exchange Reports Steady YoY Trading Volume
Switzerland’s SIX Group posted CHF 149.1 billion combined turnover for its Swiss and Spanish exchanges in January 2026, a 13.2% rise from December 2025 and 16.5% versus January 2025. Trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange grew 23.1% month‑over‑month, driven by an 86.6% jump in structured‑product...
Q2 Holdings Releases 2026 Retail Banking Trends Report
Q2 Holdings released its 2026 Retail Banking Trends and Priorities report, revealing a decisive shift from external disruption to internal execution, data, and modernization. The study shows advanced technology adoption rising to 49% of banks’ priorities, while fewer than 10%...
Brazil : New Law Updates Legal Framework for FX Market and Capital Flows
Brazil enacted Law No. 14,286, overhauling its foreign‑exchange and capital‑flow regulations after a year‑long transition ending 2022. The legislation consolidates fragmented statutes, permits residents and non‑residents to hold foreign‑currency bank accounts, and removes mandatory Central Bank registration for most capital inflows....
AU10TIX, Microsoft Partnership Reduces Reduces Fake Account Openings By 90%
AU10TIX and Microsoft unveiled OneVet, a joint solution that blends Azure Verifiable Credentials with AU10TIX’s AI‑driven identity intelligence. The platform automates partner account validation, delivering a 90% drop in fake account openings and cutting impersonation attempts. By issuing reusable, cryptographically...
Blockchain.com, Ondo Partner on Tokenized Securities, ETFs for Europe
Blockchain.com has teamed up with Ondo Finance to launch a tokenized securities platform across 30 European Economic Area countries. The service brings 200 NYSE‑listed stocks and ETFs into Blockchain.com’s self‑custody wallet, complying with the EU’s MiCA regulations. Ondo, which launched...
Digital Bank Revolut Adds Business Payments Features for Australia Market
Revolut Business has rolled out a full suite of account‑to‑account, online and in‑person payment capabilities for Australian merchants. The launch follows a 235% surge in monthly transaction volume on the platform over the past year. A Revolut‑conducted survey found 83%...
Payments Canada to Focus on Enhanced Governance with New Chief Legal and Policy Appointment
Payments Canada announced Lisa Ford as its new Chief Legal and Policy Officer, effective February 17, 2026, to strengthen governance and integrate legal, compliance, and policy functions. Ford, a 2023 Women in Payments Thought Leadership Award winner, has shaped key legislation and...
Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) Aims to Enhance Governance Standards
The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) has introduced a new General Code of Conduct aimed at decision‑makers across the financial sector. The code outlines five core principles—integrity, informed decision‑making, accountability, compliance, and fairness—to raise governance standards and ethical behavior. It...
European Central Bank (ECB) Releases Insights on Euro Area’s Economic Outlook
The ECB’s latest SAFE survey shows tightening credit conditions for euro‑area firms, with 12% reporting higher loan rates and 14% facing stricter collateral requirements. Despite the financing squeeze, external funding demand rose modestly and digital payments surged 7.7% to 77.7 billion...
Stablecoins Top $300 Billion as Institutional Usage Grows
Moody’s reports the global stablecoin market has crossed the $300 billion threshold. Settlement volumes surged 87 % to $9 trillion by the end of 2025. Regulatory clarity from the U.S. GENIUS Act and Europe’s MiCA has spurred 19 new stablecoin launches, primarily for...
Digital Assets Firm Circle Outlines Product Roadmap for 2026
Circle announced a 2026 product roadmap centered on Arc, its new Layer‑1 blockchain designed as an Economic OS for web3 finance. The plan expands USDC and other digital assets across multiple networks while introducing the Circle Payments Network and StableFX...
Binance Comments on October 10 Crypto Market Flash Crash
On October 10, 2025 a flash crash driven by $100 billion in Bitcoin derivatives open interest and global trade tensions disrupted crypto markets, causing liquidity strains and temporary Binance transfer delays. Binance’s asset‑transfer system showed zero balances for some users for 33 minutes...
Crowdcube Highlights the Growing Role of Liquidity in Equity Crowdfunding
Crowdcube is positioning liquidity as a core feature of equity crowdfunding, introducing secondary‑market tools that let early investors and employees sell portions of their shares without disrupting growth. The platform cites high‑profile exits such as Revolut and Monzo, where secondary...
Hong Kong, Switzerland Deepen Financial Cooperation in Bern Dialogue
Hong Kong and Switzerland convened their eighth Financial Dialogue in Bern, bringing together senior regulators from the HKMA, Swiss National Bank and other agencies. The closed‑door meeting focused on deepening cooperation in financial stability, sustainable finance, fintech and digital‑asset regulation....
Alpaca Introduces 24/5 Trades for Trading API, Providing Almost Round-the-Clock Access
Alpaca has launched a 24‑hour‑five‑day trading window for U.S. equities via its Trading API, covering Sunday 8 p.m. ET through Friday 8 p.m. ET. The extension targets algorithmic traders and fintech developers, adding overnight pre‑market and post‑market sessions without requiring major code...
Fintech Firm Pine Labs Strengthens Presence in Sri Lanka via Card Management Partnership with Pan Asia Bank
Pine Labs is expanding its fintech footprint in Sri Lanka by partnering with Pan Asia Banking Corporation to launch its cloud‑native Credit+ card‑management platform. The solution automates the entire credit‑card lifecycle, integrating with the bank’s core systems and enabling real‑time...
Crowdfund Capital Advisors: Founder Tells SEC, Congress to Improve Secondary Markets for Crowdfunded Securities
Sherwood Neiss, founder of Crowdfund Capital Advisors, submitted testimony to the SEC’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee and a letter to the House Financial Services Committee urging reforms to secondary markets for crowdfunded securities. The House recently advanced HR 7127,...
France: Autorité Des Marchés Financiers Says Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption High
The French securities regulator AMF reports that AI adoption among financial firms is very high, with 90% of surveyed entities already using or planning to use the technology. Generative AI leads the pack, with 54% of respondents running production‑grade models,...
Blockchain Analytics Platform Dune Integrates X Layer
Dune has added full support for X Layer, the high‑performance Ethereum Layer 2 built by OKX, making every transaction, contract deployment and bridge movement queryable on its platform. X Layer boasts up to 5,000 TPS, one‑second block times and near‑zero gas fees, offering developers...
Grow California: Crypto Advocates Look to Support Moderates, Some Republican Politicians in California
Grow California, a 501(c)(4) advocacy group co‑founded by crypto investors Tim Draper and Ripple co‑founder Chris Larsen, has raised $50 million to back moderate and some Republican politicians in the state. The group aims to curb California’s high‑tax trajectory, promote entrepreneurship,...
Alternative Inflation Measure Truflation Shows Inflation Dramatically Lower than Feds Believe
Truflation, an independent inflation data firm, reported a headline rate of 0.86% – the lowest since 2020 – far below the Federal Reserve’s 2.7% estimate. The Fed recently held rates steady, citing persistent inflation, while its upcoming leadership change could...
European Investment Platform PeerBerry Reports €50M in Interest Paid to Investors
PeerBerry reported €28 million of new loan funding in January, a modest rise from December. Investors earned roughly €882 000 in interest that month, bringing cumulative payouts since launch to over €50.7 million. The platform’s loan portfolio expanded 1 % to €117.2 million and attracted...
Nansen Launches Web Version of AI Agent to Improve Onchain Analysis and Trading
Blockchain analytics firm Nansen has launched its AI Agent on a web platform, extending the mobile‑first tool to desktop users. The conversational interface lets traders and analysts query on‑chain data, generate smart alerts, and even prepare swaps, with manual confirmation...