May 18, 2026 @ 10:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitcoin Depot, one of North America’s largest operators of Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs), has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move aims to enable a structured wind-down of its business activities and the sale of its remaining assets, marking a significant development in the… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Carta has indicated that the early-stage startup ecosystem in the United States showed notable resilience in the first quarter of 2026. This, according to the latest insights from Carta which noted that roughly 3,000 domestic companies secured pre-seed capital during this period, generating more than… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 5:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Affirm (NASDAQ: AFRM) has deepened its collaboration with Google. The partnership integrates Affirm’s flexible pay-over-time solutions directly into Google’s ecosystem, including the Gemini app and Google Search with its AI Mode, all accessible through Google Pay. Announced recently this month, this development aims to address… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 4:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bitcoin proxy firm Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) (NASDAQ:MSTR) has bought more Bitcoin. Bitcoin recently traded above $80,000 but has since retreated slightly. Currently, Bitcoin is around $77,000 after topping $82,000 in the past month. Strategy filed an 8-K today indicating that a previously announced share offering… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 4:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at VerifiedX noted that Bitcoin (BTC), the flagship cryptocurrency, continues to gain traction as a cornerstone institutional asset, prompting innovators to explore expansions in its functionality. One view holds that the cryptocurrency’s future development will emphasize enhanced programmability alongside strong privacy protections. VerifiedX… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 3:38 pm By JD Alois  |  

Elon Musk has lost his legal battle with  Sam Altman and OpenAI (ChatGPT). Musk, a founder of OpenAI who committed funds to launch the artificial intelligence platform, took Altman to court, arguing that a non-profit cannot switch to a for-profit entity and thus have its… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 3:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The prolonged crypto downturn shows little sign of easing as ongoing political uncertainties and macroeconomic headwinds continue to weigh on the sector. Major players are streamlining operations in response, with notable adjustments at leading platforms. Investment platform Kraken‘s parent company, Payward Inc., recently eliminated around… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 3:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Consumer Fintech Chime (NASDAQ: CHYM) continues to battle for customers against established digital challengers like SoFi (NASDAQ: SOFI). Both platforms target tech-savvy users seeking streamlined banking experiences, but they differentiate through product offerings and expansion strategies. SoFi stands out by providing more attractive yields on deposits…. Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Iran has announced it intends to offer insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz using Bitcoin. Fars News Agency and Iran’s Ministry of Economy state that the system provides cryptographically verifiable insurance policies. By using Bitcoin, Iran aims to circumvent the many sanctions imposed… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:53 am By JD Alois  |  

Tether has announced an investment in LemFi, a Fintech that enables cross-border transfers. LemFi (formerly known as Lemonade Finance) supports users living in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe to send payments and transfers to more than 30 countries. As Tether is the issuer of USD₮,… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:39 am By JD Alois  |  

Tokenization is quickly becoming commonplace, and it is vital that regulators and policymakers work in concert with both current industry participants and future firms that will eventually incorporate digital assets, including tokenized securities. The Bank of England and the UK Financial Conduct Authority issued a… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 9:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Anchorage Digital and Grupo Salinas have unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at transforming international settlements. The alliance leverages regulated stablecoins to enable faster, more efficient, and transparent cross-border transactions, marking a step forward in the integration of digital assets into traditional banking systems. Anchorage Digital,… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 8:48 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have issued a joint statement on tokenization and the wholesale market. The comment is described as a “shared vision” that has the potential to streamline markets while benefitting from additional functionality. The discussion is driven… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 7:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A decentralized finance project called Verus is grappling with a serious security incident involving its cross-chain connection to Ethereum. Blockchain monitoring experts have confirmed that malicious actors have extracted roughly $11.58 million in cryptocurrency assets from the bridge so far, sparking immediate concerns across the… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 6:52 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) like other Fintech companies in this challenging environment is navigating a strategy of workforce optimization and artificial intelligence integration with key players like Anthropic. This approach aims to enhance operational efficiency while addressing competitive pressures in a digital-first economy. Recent developments highlight how… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 6:04 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

V-Track, an African asset intelligence platform, recently introduced a new platform designed to give users real-time insight into their asset management effectiveness As organizations across Africa intensify their focus on financial discipline, cost optimization, and governance, a critical vulnerability is the lack of accurate, real-time… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 5:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency and digital tokens market witnessed a rally in HYPE tokens on news of a significant collaboration involving Hyperliquid, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN),  and Circle (NYSE:CRCL). HYPE climbed to an impressive peak of $46.93, reflecting strong investor enthusiasm for the latest developments in decentralized finance infrastructure…. Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 1:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

US startup Sprouts.ai has raised $9 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by True Global Ventures and Accel, as investors continue backing companies building autonomous tools for enterprise sales and marketing teams. The latest round brings Sprouts.ai’s total funding to $14 million since… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong regulators and market participants have released a sector-focused transition finance guide for the technology industry, as the city seeks to give banks, investors, and issuers more practical tools for assessing climate transition plans in digital infrastructure and ICT financing. The Hong Kong Green… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 12:19 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s central bank will ease some rules governing the sale of complex investment products to retail investors, as regulators seek to balance investor protection with growing demand for self-directed investing platforms and digital financial services. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it will proceed… Read More