June 22, 2026 @ 7:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

China has reportedly taken a significant step toward further expanding the international reach of its central bank digital currency by signing direct participation agreements with 26 financial institutions for cross-border digital yuan transactions. The latest agreements, finalized in Shanghai, grant the institutions access to the… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 7:00 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Select Fintech investments and acquisitions this past week, beginning with a whopper from Deluxe. Deluxe acquires Celero for $625 million deal. Celero offers merchant solutions for small to mid-sized businesses and strategic partners, including an all-in-one suite of omnichannel payment solutions. Learn more here. Chronograph… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 6:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) is teaming up with Cboe Global Markets to introduce a new suite of options contracts tied to the performance of the S&P 500 index. These products will let clients place straightforward yes-or-no wagers on whether the benchmark closes above or below predetermined… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 1:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PwC’s Deals practice has entered a strategic relationship with ToltIQ, a specialized artificial intelligence platform focused on private markets due diligence. Announced recently this month, this partnership positions PwC as ToltIQ’s exclusive professional services advisor worldwide, with exclusivity among major accounting and consulting firms. The… Read More

June 22, 2026 @ 12:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have jointly announced the launch of a pilot project on 18 June 2026. This initiative explores an innovative digital payment option designed to support margin requirements during the after-hours trading (AHT)… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 11:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Despite Brazil’s already high level of digital payments maturity, a new assessment from Bain & Company indicates meaningful room for further expansion through the end of the decade. As of the end of 2025, digital payment methods had reached an 85% penetration rate across the… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 10:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fintech firm Stripe has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to introduce new tools that allow content creators and publishers to earn revenue from interactions with autonomous AI systems. Announced on June 15, 2026, this collaboration integrates Stripe’s payment infrastructure into AWS’s Web Application Firewall… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 10:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

UK’s Starling Bank is reducing the size of its board of directors following multiple recent exits. The changes, which include no plans to fill every resulting vacancy, are expected to strengthen the influence of the bank’s largest shareholder, Harald McPike. According to company filings and… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 10:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Italian fintech company Conio has obtained a license to act as a crypto-asset service provider in accordance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, known as MiCAR. This authorization was issued in Italy after a thorough review process conducted by the securities markets regulator… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 6:45 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit is offering eligible users access to tokenized bond funds managed by PIMCO and China Merchants Bank International (CMBI), the latest sign of how digital asset platforms are using blockchain infrastructure to bring traditional fixed-income investments to crypto-native investors. The launch comes as… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 6:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has taken another significant step toward offering investors direct exposure to major cryptocurrencies through exchange-traded funds. The firm recently submitted amended registration statements to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its proposed spot Ethereum and Solana ETFs. These updates provide… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 6:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Prediction market platform Kalshi has entered informal discussions with investment banks about a potential initial public offering, according to a new report. The conversations remain preliminary, with any listing likely still more than a year away. The development comes alongside strong evidence of accelerating business… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 4:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mexico’s central bank, Banco de México (Banxico), released new regulations on June 18, 2026, aimed at making electronic transactions smoother and expanding access for small businesses. The measures introduce a new type of simplified deposit account and raise transaction limits, with the goal of reducing… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 2:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As part of a recent, notable shift for the Sonic blockchain project, three founding board members—including DeFi developer Andre Cronje—have resigned from Sonic Labs. The move coincides with the project’s native S token trading roughly 97% below its all-time high, highlighting ongoing challenges in a… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 1:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Istanbul-based fintech company Midas has submitted an application to Turkey’s central bank for an electronic money institution license. The filing marks the start of its push into consumer payment services, with plans to introduce a digital wallet and prepaid card features. Founder Egem Eraslan outlined… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 11:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Uzbekistan’s digital ecosystem company, Uzum, is preparing to raise new capital through a private investment round before the end of 2026. The move is intended to accelerate the company’s growth trajectory as it lays groundwork for a possible stock market debut in the medium term…. Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 8:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Dune Analytics has officially integrated Flow, a Layer 1 blockchain tailored for mass-market applications. This addition provides analysts, developers, and investors with comprehensive, queryable on-chain data, enabling deep exploration of consumer DeFi, digital collectibles, and emerging AI-driven use cases. As of June 18, 2026, the… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 1:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

TRM Labs has pointed out that the UK has designated HTX—one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency platforms—along with 17 related entities and individuals. According to insights from TRM Labs, this latest action marks the first time regulators have targeted a crypto exchange of this magnitude,… Read More

June 21, 2026 @ 12:35 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Suez Canal Bank has announced it is examining ways to create a more connected digital experience that combines everyday banking with investment tools. The bank is working with Thunder, Egypt’s digital investment platform, Visa (NYSE: V), the global payments network, and Modopay, a regional payment technology… Read More