Global

January 16, 2025 @ 8:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Zilch, a fintech payments innovator of the “ad-subsidized” payments network (ASPN), announces the launch of Zilch Travel. This partnership will reportedly make booking and paying for holidays “easier and more rewarding.” Powered by lastminute.com, a European Travel-Tech firm, the partnership aims to enhance Zilch customers’… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 11:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Juno Technologies says it has raised $1 million to pursue its artificial intelligence service that aims to improve loan processing for small firms. Fuel Ventures led the funding round with contributions from Zinc and other Angel investors. Juno AI is described as a generative AI… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 11:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

UK inflation (Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs – CPIH) declined slightly in an unexpected development. Inflation was measured at an annual rate of 2.5% in December, down from November at 2.6%. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose by 0.3%… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 4:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ramirez Asset Management, Inc., a fixed income and equity investment manager serving institutional investors and high net worth investors, has reportedly acquired the private credit opportunities strategy team and their assets from hedge fund manager Avenue Capital Group. The acquisition, which closed on Oct 1,… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 4:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index fell by 1.8 per cent in December 2024 after a “strong” Black Friday sales spending boost in November of last year. As noted in the latest report from Australia‘s CommBank, the fall was driven by an “8.3 percent… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

It’s been a tough few years with challenging inflation, high interest rates, and tepid capital markets. While there are many indications the world has turned the corner, for Fintechs and access to capital, 2024 was a dismal year. Innovate Finance, a UK association that advocates… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The North East and London were once again the two “standout performers” in terms of regional business activity growth in December, according to the latest NatWest UK Regional Growth Tracker. Higher business activity was recorded in “three of the 12 nations and regions in December.”… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dr. Sean Dawson, Head of Research at the “decentralized” on-chain options AI-powered platform, Derive.xyz (TVL $128M, $12.3B trade volume), has shared key insights focused on Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) markets. Dr. Sean Dawson, Head of Research at Derive.xyz noted that in the last 24… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 10:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a report addressing crowdfunding in the EU. Not too long ago, the EU approved new rules addressing online capital formation. European Crowdfunding Service Provider regulation (ECSPR) allows a platform approved by the relevant authority in its home… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 8:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK’s small and medium-sized businesses are bracing for cost increases this year, according to new research from iwoca – one of Europe’s SME lenders. iwoca’s SME Outlook, based on a survey of SME owners, shows that mounting business running costs tops the list of… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 8:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Analysis of Bank of Ireland customer behavior between 14 and 24 December has shown “record” Christmas digital banking usage. On Thursday, 19 Dec 2024, close to 1.6 million digital banking logins were recorded across Bank of Ireland’s iOS and Android mobile apps, “as well as… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 8:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CaixaBank has exceeded 250,000 instant bill collection transactions for companies via the SEPA Request To Pay system. The bank, which in June 2023 became the first in Europe to be approved to operate with this system, has now “activated the first commercial service created under… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 1:15 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, the United Kingdom governmental organization Open Banking Limited celebrated the seventh anniversary of PSD2 and the creation of open banking. Open Banking Limited is the implementation entity described in a Competitions and Market Authority Order. It created an open banking standard and industry… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 11:18 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, British Business Investments announced an initial £ 20 million funding facility to Sprk Capital. The facility will provide capital to smaller businesses in the UK engaged in innovation. British Business Investments, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, aims to improve… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 9:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN) and Enfusion, Inc. (NYSE: ENFN) announced their entry into a definitive merger agreement for Clearwater to acquire Enfusion, a provider of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for the investment management and hedge fund industry. According to the announcement, the purchase price is $11.25… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 6:58 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Feedzai, the global firm focused on AI-driven fraud prevention solutions, announced its partnership with Credibanco, Colombia’s payment processing company. This partnership will enable Credibanco to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning models to detect and prevent fraud “in real time, ensuring  secure transactions across channels—both… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 12:03 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Smartfin, a growth equity investor in European B2B technology companies, has reportedly closed its third growth fund at its €250 million target. This fund marks a key milestone for the firm, with an introductory participation of the European Investment Fund (EIF) through its ESCALAR program… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 9:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Republic, the largest securities crowdfunding platform in the world, has partnered with Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE) to bring digital assets to retail investors. Hamilton Lane is a large private-markets investment firm with more than $947 billion in assets under management and supervision. The firm has… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 8:57 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England and HM Treasury are in the design phase for the creation of a digital pound or central bank digital currency. A consultation paper outlined the framework as a precursor to a possible digital currency. The update by the Bank is said… Read More

January 14, 2025 @ 8:43 am By JD Alois  |  

Paymentology, audax, and Mastercard have joined to publish a report on Cards-as-a-Service (CaaS). The report is entitled; “Understanding Cards-as-a-Service (CaaS) and the Power of Strategic Partnerships.” The trio described CaaS as transformative, allowing Fintechs, banks, and more to become “distributors of payment services” and generating… Read More