March 30, 2023 @ 9:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Paymentology, the global issuer-processor, has joined forces with Wio Bank PJSC, the region’s first platform bank, “to power its innovative banking model with customer-centric card payment services.” Wio Bank PJSC is leveraging Paymentology’s in-cloud card issuing platform and data analytics capabilities “to launch financial products… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 5:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has created the Office of Financial Technology (Fintech). At the same time, the OCC has appointed Prashant Bhardwaj to lead the office as Deputy Comptroller and Chief Financial Technology Officer. This is not the first time… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 5:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has posted a notice that on March 15, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final judgment against Defendants John and sister JonAtina (Tina) Barksdale ordering permanent injunctions, disgorgement with interest, and… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 5:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Alipay platform announced an incentive plan worth 10 billion RMB (approximately 1.45 billion USD) to further support its service provider partners (ISVs). The ISVs are independent software vendors that “utilize Alipay’s digital capabilities to create solutions for merchants, such as mobile food ordering, digital… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 5:19 pm By JD Alois  |  

Signature Bank, soon to be part of Flagstar Bank (a subsidiary of New York Community Bancorp Inc.), has given the boot to deposits by crypto firms. According to multiple reports, the FDIC has crypto-affiliated accounts to leave by April 5th. After that, the check will… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 3:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last week Block (NASDAQ:SQ) fired back at noted short-seller Hindenburg Research’s hit piece that lambasted the Fintech’s operations. The report by Hindenburg did not mince words describing Block as having embraced one traditionally very “underbanked” segment of the population: criminals. Block quickly responded, stating that… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 3:13 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

GGC International Limited (Genesis), a digital asset trading firm, is proud to announce its collaboration with BitGo Trust, a key player focused on digital asset custody, to provide a tri-party solution for its institutional clients. This joint effort will “allow Genesis to continue delivering superior… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 12:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitso, the cryptocurrency-powered financial services company in Latin America, surpassed more than $3.3 billion in transactions between the United States and Mexico in 2022 through its Crypto 4 Business service, “mainly used by remittance and payment processors.” This volume is triple the amount “processed by… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 12:21 pm By JD Alois  |  

Ledger, a digital asset firm based in France, has raised an additional €100 million (~$108.3 million) to fuel the company. The valuation was set in 2021 at €1.3 billion during the initial Series C round – so not exactly a down round but flat –… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 11:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

New research from Payoneer (NASDAQ: PAYO) shows almost half (46%) of surveyed freelancers around the world “have seen an increase in demand for their work from global businesses compared to 2021, and over half (55%) have taken on more work in response to the rising… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 11:11 am By JD Alois  |  

Do Kwon is expected to stand trial in Montenegro before facing charges in other interested jurisdictions. Kwon is the founder and CEO of Terraform Labs, the crypto company that created TerraUSD and LUNA. TerraUSD was an aspiring algorithmic stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. The… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 10:29 am By Amal Ahmed  |  

Industry players are on a mission to differentiate themselves, while merchants and consumers are demanding innovative ways to pay for what they buy.  A seamless payment experience is becoming more and more important to consumers and, therefore, merchants as e-commerce continues to be as competitive… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 9:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Japan’s Finance Ministry is reportedly planning to appoint a panel of experts this coming month in order to determine the feasibility of issuing a digital yen. This, according to a report  from NHK. The ministry’s panel in Japan will be going over how to establish… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 9:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Presta, an end-to-end digital lending platform that modernizes and accelerates the loan origination process, announced its launch after raising $3.3 million in oversubscribed pre-seed fundraise. Led by Distributed Ventures with additional investment from Zeal Capital Partners, Matchstick Ventures, The Fund, Tech Stars, and Jumpstart Ventures,… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 9:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Nucleus Commercial Finance research highlights the scale of the challenge facing UK SMEs: 65% of SMEs are finding the current cost-of-living crisis is proving more of a burden on their business than the pandemic lockdowns Just 33% believe the cost-of-living crisis is proving less of… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 8:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Indicted FTX crypto exchange founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) is reportedly expected to plead not guilty this Thursday to the latest US criminal charges. These new charges include allegedy conspiring to violate campaign finance guidelines and even attempting to bribe Chinese officials. As first reported by… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 8:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Smart contracts will reportedly have to include a “kill switch” under an update of the European Union’s (EU) Data Act which was recently released by the bloc’s member states on Monday (March 27, 2023). The European Union’s Council, which is focused on representing national governments,… Read More

March 30, 2023 @ 8:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced measures intended to lift the UK economy in the Spring Budget, data from iwoca highlights what small businesses “were most worried about as they entered 2023.” Small business lender iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index data – based on UK finance… Read More

March 29, 2023 @ 10:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HDFC Bank Ltd has appointed Backbase in order “to deliver their vision for a market-leading digital banking experience in India.” Backbase powers HDFC Bank’s retail banking, “enabling a more seamless customer experience across digital touchpoints in response to changing consumer expectations and new regulatory requirements.”… Read More

March 29, 2023 @ 9:57 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

New Zealand-headquartered green fintech firm Cogo conducted a survey to uncover Japanese customer attitudes towards banks and financial apps “helping them drive sustainable lifestyles.” Administered in collaboration with strategic design and sustainability consultancy Fabric, the survey “engaged 1,966 participants who use banking and financial apps… Read More