Global

May 13, 2026 @ 6:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Bank of England has released the final report from its DLT Innovation Challenge 2025, a collaborative effort with the BIS Innovation Hub’s London Centre. Released recently this month, the document offers fresh practical insights into how distributed ledger technology could reshape wholesale payments and… Read More

May 13, 2026 @ 2:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chicago-based CME Group, the global leader in derivatives trading, has introduced fresh futures contracts linked to the Avalanche (AVAX) and Sui (SUI) cryptocurrencies. The development was confirmed on May 6, 2026, with the first block trades executed between institutional digital asset specialists FalconX and G-20… Read More

May 13, 2026 @ 2:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A UK-based nonprofit social lender has partnered with NatWest Group’s Open Banking payments specialist to deliver a more adaptable approach to loan repayments. East Lancashire Moneyline, which focuses on serving people shut out of conventional credit markets, is now using Variable Recurring Payments (VRP) through… Read More

May 13, 2026 @ 1:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a fresh alert on the growing dangers to global financial stability from artificial intelligence. In a blog post dated May 7, 2026, the IMF explains how AI is reshaping both the vulnerabilities and defenses of the financial system…. Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 4:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CB Insights has indicated that Insurtech startups are poised for historically large investment rounds in 2026, even as the sector confronts a sharply contracting pipeline of fresh opportunities. According to CB Insights’ latest analysis, the median deal size climbed to $10 million in the first… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 4:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Cardano and Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson has argued that everyday smartphones could provide stronger protection for digital assets than many traditional hardware wallets. Drawing on the advanced secure elements built into devices like iPhones, Android phones, and Samsung models, he contends that these integrated chips… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 12:59 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled a new capability that allows autonomous AI agents to handle real-time financial transactions independently. Referred to as Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Payments, the preview feature integrates seamlessly with the existing AgentCore platform, enabling AI systems to purchase access to digital… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 11:33 am By JD Alois  |  

Elliptic has raised $120 million in Series D funding at a pre-money valuation of $670 million. The round was led by One Peak, with participation from Nasdaq Ventures, Deutsche Bank, and the British Business Bank. Founded in 2013, Elliptic is headquartered in London with offices… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 11:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Alpaca has introduced custodial accounts as a new feature for its Broker API partners, marking a significant enhancement to its brokerage infrastructure. Announced on May 11, 2026, the rollout allows fintech platforms and institutional clients to let parents and guardians in the United States open… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 7:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PitchBook has indicated that the US venture capital ecosystem reached a conisderable $9.4 trillion in total market value as of March 31, 2026. This, according to PitchBook’s latest quarterly analysis of valuations and returns. Artificial intelligence companies alone command nearly half of that figure—about $5.8… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 7:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Stablecoin issuer Circle (NYSE:CRCL) has recently unveiled its Agent Stack. Announced recently this month, this open-source infrastructure is designed specifically for the “agentic economy”—a future where intelligent agents reason, plan, and execute economic tasks independently. The platform equips agents with the tools to hold funds,… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 7:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has taken a significant step in enhancing its financial technology offerings by making its Open Risk Analytics solution available through the Models-as-a-Service (MaaS) marketplace. Announced recently this month, this development integrates advanced quantitative risk tools from the company’s Post Trade… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 2:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has released new findings showing that crypto-based prediction markets have undergone steady expansion in recent months. Weekly capital inflows into these platforms have climbed sharply since September 2024, fueled largely by the U.S. presidential election cycle and continuing momentum into November…. Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 1:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

KPMG indicated that new rules designed to protect customer funds held by payment and electronic money firms took effect on 7 May 2026, marking a significant upgrade to the UK’s financial safeguards. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced the measures to ensure that client money… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 12:28 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Gr4vy, a cloud-based payment orchestration platform, this week announced support for Pix Automático in Brazil through its integration with dLocal, a cross-border payment platform. It allows merchants to offer automated Pix billing for subscriptions, memberships, and other recurring services. Pix has helped bring more than… Read More

May 12, 2026 @ 12:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Germany’s second-largest lender, Commerzbank, has announced a significant workforce reduction of up to 3,000 positions as it accelerates efforts to strengthen its financial performance and maintain its independence amid mounting pressure from an Italian rival. The move forms part of a broader overhaul designed to… Read More

May 11, 2026 @ 10:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Nubank’s (NYSE: NU) senior executives explained how the company’s artificial intelligence underwriting framework is driving sustainable expansion in credit services. The update from Nubank’s  professional team emphasized that core risk protocols stay firmly in place, with delinquency levels holding steady even as more customers gain… Read More

May 11, 2026 @ 9:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Australian authorities are preparing to outline revisions to the capital gains tax (CGT) system as part of the forthcoming federal budget. These adjustments, while often framed around residential property, are expected to extend across a wide range of investment classes—including cryptocurrencies and other digital assets—potentially… Read More

May 11, 2026 @ 9:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Lloyds Banking Group has opened a new office in Luxembourg, marking a significant step in strengthening its support for institutional clients across Europe. The move positions the UK-based lender more firmly in one of the continent’s premier hubs for international investment funds and sophisticated cross-border… Read More

May 11, 2026 @ 5:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

PitchBook indicated that the American venture capital secondary market achieved a landmark annualized valuation of $112.2 billion during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the scale of public listings for the first time. This expansion underscores a maturing ecosystem where private share trading now rivals… Read More