January 17, 2026 @ 9:11 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, Meld announced the close of a $7 million strategic funding round led by Lightspeed Faction, with participation from F-Prime, Yolo Investments, and Scytale Digital. This financing advances Meld’s mission to enable stablecoin-driven use cases and will accelerate the company’s go-to-market efforts, expansion of… Read More

January 17, 2026 @ 1:55 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Singapore Gulf Bank has further strengthened its relationship with J.P. Morgan by opening a correspondent banking account, granting it direct access to one of the world’s most established USD clearing networks. The collaboration fortifies Singapore Gulf Bank’s existing network of correspondent banks and payment systems,… Read More

January 17, 2026 @ 12:52 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move to streamline financial operations for SMBs and managed service providers (MSPs), Benji Pays has introduced its latest product update: Benji Payments. This new offering harnesses the capabilities of Adyen for Platforms to deliver seamless payment processing embedded directly into the Benji Pays… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 7:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Hong Kong-based WeLab has reportedly closed a $220 million Series D funding round, marking the biggest capital raise for a digital banking group in the region this year. This milestone underscores growing investor enthusiasm for financial technologies amid evolving economic landscapes. Founded in 2013, WeLab… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 7:07 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Animoca Brands has finalized the purchase of SOMO, a company focused on crypto-based collectibles and interactive entertainment. This development, announced recently this month, underscores Animoca Brands’ commitment to advancing blockchain-driven experiences that enable users with true digital ownership. Animoca Brands, a key player in the… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 7:02 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Apex Fintech Solutions has recently teamed up with Allfunds, a European wealthtech provider, to streamline access to international investment options. This collaboration, revealed earlier this month, aims to make offshore mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and alternative assets more readily available to investors worldwide, including… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 4:34 pm By JD Alois  |  

BTCC, a Vilnius-based crypto exchange, is reporting having traded over $5 billion in tokenized gold. BTCC was founded in 2011, making it one of the oldest crypto exchanges around. The company reports finishing the year at $5.72 billion in tokenized gold trading. The milestone was… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 4:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

California has a lot going for it. Beautiful beaches, mountains, and parks. Awesome weather. And the most powerful startup and innovation ecosystem in the world. And for some reason, the state of California is working hard to destroy its entrepreneurial hub of prosperity and growth… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 2:38 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

The independence of the Federal Reserve, the world’s largest economy’s central bank, is under attack and markets won’t stand for it, cautions deVere Group CEO Nigel Green. The warning comes as Chairman Jerome Powell says he is now under federal criminal investigation related to the… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 2:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLXY) has completed the first phase of its inaugural tokenized collateralized loan obligation (CLO). Referred to as the Galaxy CLO 2025-1, this financial product secured $75 million in commitments, leveraging the Avalanche blockchain to enhance operational efficiency and transparency in… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 11:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

London’s High Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by major payment processors Mastercard (NYSE: MA), Visa (NYSE: V) and digital bank Revolut against proposed limits on cross-border card transaction fees. The ruling, issued on January 15, 2026, affirms the authority of the UK’s Payments Systems… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 11:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Societe Generale-FORGE (SG-FORGE) and SWIFT have demonstrated the integration of tokenized assets with traditional payment systems. This milestone, announced on January 15, 2026, involves the smooth exchange and settlement of tokenized bonds using both conventional fiat currencies and digital stablecoins. The achievement highlights the potential… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 11:29 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Lingfeng Capital has revealed plans for the Digital Venture Fund (DVF), an initiative developed in collaboration with Archax and supported by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). This regulated, multi-chain tokenized fund aims to seamlessly connect traditional institutional finance with the burgeoning world of digital… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 11:28 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

InRento CEO Gustas Germanavicius believes the European real estate sector is facing a period of change as 2026 approaches. With many cities already densely developed and land for new projects scarce, both developers and investors are competing for fewer available properties. High levels of household… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 11:21 am By JD Alois  |  

Monzo, a top digital bank, experienced a several-hour outage this past week. The American Banker reported that users experienced failed payments and challenges in reaching customer support. On the Monzo community board, a representative stated that as soon as platform issues were identified, they activated… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 10:49 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

GrowthPal, co-founded by Maneesh Bhandari, Shalu Mitruka and Amaresh Shirsat, announced a $2.6 million funding round to accelerate its AI-powered M&A copilot for deal sourcing and execution. The round was led by Ideaspring Capital with participation from angel investors. The capital will support product development… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 9:46 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

SPINS, a provider of CPG data, insights, and commerce solutions, has acquired MikMak, a developer of commerce intelligence and omnichannel orchestration. The acquisition assists SPINS’ vision to enable and measure engagement with shoppers throughout their buying journey, and across physical, digital, and agentic shelves. As… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 8:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CB Insights released a research report covering the artificial intelligence sector’s evolution over the past year. The analysis highlights unprecedented venture capital inflows, shifting deal dynamics, and breakthroughs in areas like robotics and agent technologies, while underscoring challenges such as escalating costs and market consolidation…. Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 8:25 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

tZERO Group and North Capital Investment Technology announced Agora, a technology network connecting alternative trading systems (ATS) to enable broader market access for tokenized securities and other private securities. Agora will allow securities listed on one ATS to be accessible to qualified subscribers of another ATS, expanding… Read More

January 16, 2026 @ 8:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple has unveiled a multi-year partnership with LMAX Group, a key player in the global foreign exchange (FX) and cryptocurrency trading arena. As part of this collaboration, Ripple is committing $150 million in funding to bolster LMAX’s expansion across multiple asset classes. This initiative highlights… Read More