Global

January 19, 2025 @ 10:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Italy’s largest bank has embraced Bitcoin, which may be considered a key milestone in financial evolution. In a significant development for crypto adoption, Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s largest banking group, has recently acquired 11 BTC worth €1 million, marking the first instance of an Italian bank… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 4:56 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, KCB Bank Kenya and UnionPay International partnered to enhance e-commerce payment capabilities in Kenya, enabling UnionPay cardholders to transact on digital platforms. This collaboration is aimed at enriching the online shopping experience for consumers and merchants across Kenya. “We are delighted to join hands with UnionPay… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 1:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CyberCube, the global firm focused on cyber risk analytics, has released its 2025 Predictions Report, offering insights into the dynamics of the cyber (re)insurance market. The report identifies trends and challenges shaping the sector in the year ahead. As noted in the update from CyberCube:… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 1:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Olé Life, a Latin American insurtech company, announced that it has raised $13 million in Series B funding, led by PayPal Ventures with participation from Mundi Ventures, AV8 and Advent Morro. Olé Life explained that is focused on redefining how families access and experience financial… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 12:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Regtech ComplyAdvantage noted that organized crime—coordinated criminal enterprises profiting from a range of illegal activities—plays “an increasingly dominant role in global criminality.” Regtech ComplyAdvantage pointed out that what’s more, it is shaping much of the “global political agenda.” From Donald Trump threatening to issue sweeping… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 12:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company have signed an agreement to collaborate on a comprehensive corporate transformation initiative that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to “reinvent how Meiji Yasuda’s workforce operates.” Under the multi-year agreement, until March 2030, Accenture will help Meiji… Read More

January 18, 2025 @ 12:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Global Insurtech BOXX Insurance is continuing US business expansion plans with product and distribution management leadership hires. BOXX Insurance, a global cyber Insurtech, is pleased to announce three new appointments to support its growth agenda in the US. Erik Tifft has been appointed Head of… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 7:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Thunes, the “Smart Superhighway” to move money around the world, today welcomes Hyperwallet, a PayPal service for global payouts, as a Member of Thunes’ Direct Global Network. As part of this network, Hyperwallet customers can send money in real-time to “more than 450 million mobile… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 4:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

The EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is operational as of today. DORA aims to harmonize the rules regarding digital operational resilience that apply to financial services firms like banks and more. DORA seeks to improve the incident reporting methodology with a single network which should… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 3:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

Upstream, “a stock exchange for digital securities,” says it is now accepting Tethere – USDT or USDC dollar-based stablecoins. USDT os the largest stablecoin by market cap at $137.5 billion. USDC is the second largest. Upstream is part of MERJ, a regulated stock exchange based… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 1:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Over one-third of UK adults say they have £25,000 or more in cash savings, according to research from Starling Bank, and it seems that “putting money aside for life goals is the key to building up a savings pile.” Starling Bank noted that 36% of… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 11:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Airwallex announced several milestones in its global expansion strategy: securing a payment institution license from the Banco Central do Brasil, and finalizing the acquisition of MexPago, a Mexico-based payment service provider and an Institution of Electronic Payment Funds (IFPE) license-holder. With these two licenses secured,… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

MiCA, or markets in crypto markets regulation, aims to create bright-line rules in Europe to enable digital asset innovation. While not regulating digital securities, MiCA covers just about everything else, including stablecoin regulation. The EU wants to encourage the development of new products and services… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 10:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG UK noted that the UK economy emerges from downturn while “risks of further headwinds rise.” Yael Selfin from KPMG also mentioned the UK GDP returned to growth after two consecutive months of decline, with “growth potentially accelerating in 2025.” They… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 10:17 am By JD Alois  |  

Estateguru, an online investment platform for small loans, said that investors received over €36 million in repayments during Q4 of 2024. This includes both principal and interest, with €3 million earned as interest by investors. During the quarter, investors funded €20.6 million in loans, each… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 7:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reported “record-breaking” enforcement actions in 2024, while the value of fines issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) more than tripled year-on-year, according to SteelEye’s annual fine tracker. To create its annual… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 7:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PensionBee, a firm focused on the consumer retirement market, has launched its new Climate Plan that sets a “clear” standard for climate-focused pensions. UK’s PensionBee explained that this plan not only excludes fossil fuel producers but also “commits to continually reducing the total intensity of… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 7:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

LendInvest Mortgages (LSE: LINV), a fintech platform dedicated to specialised lending, has announced the release of a suite of new and enhanced products designed to better serve the diverse needs of today’s borrowers. Recognizing that not all borrowers fit the traditional lending mold, these updates… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 7:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) is partnering with Northeastern University in Vancouver to accelerate cybersecurity innovation and expand Canada’s technology workforce. Through 715,000 CAD, the collab will establish the Mastercard Professorship Fund and the Mastercard Vancouver Scholarship, initiatives designed to advance research and create “opportunities for women, BIPOC… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 7:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Fenergo, the provider of digital solutions for client lifecycle management (CLM), know your customer (KYC) and transaction monitoring, announced  the findings of its report on financial institution enforcement actions. Global regulatory fines in 2024 saw a decline in value from “$6.57 billion in 2023 to… Read More