January 13, 2026 @ 8:03 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Illicit cryptocurrency transactions reached an all-time high of $158 billion in 2025, according to TRM Labs‘ newly released 2026 Crypto Crime Report. This figure marks a 145% increase from the $64.5 billion recorded in 2024, shattering the multi-year decline observed from 2021 ($85.9 billion) through… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 8:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Intesa Sanpaolo continues to solidify its position as a key player in debt capital markets and sustainable initiatives. The Italian banking institution has recently announced significant bond market transactions conducted in late 2025 and a substantial green loan aimed at advancing eco-friendly maritime transport. These… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 7:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2025 drew to a close, the UK employment landscape reflected persistent caution among businesses, driven by economic uncertainty and escalating costs. According to the latest KPMG and Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) UK Report on Jobs, compiled by S&P Global, permanent staff appointments declined… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 7:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In the ecosystem of commercial finance, recent media headlines have reportedly proclaimed the so-called death of factoring, which is said to be a staple in business funding. However, a blog post from UK Finance now challenges this narrative, arguing that such reports are not only… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 7:56 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On January 12, 2026, investing and savings platform Betterment revealed that a sophisticated social engineering attack was responsible for a recent security incident. This breach allowed an unauthorized individual to access certain customer personal information and send fraudulent messages promoting a fake cryptocurrency-related offer to… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 3:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Banco Santander (NYSE: SAN) has finalized the sale of a 49% stake in its Polish subsidiary, Santander Bank Polska S.A., to Austria’s Erste Group Bank AG. The transaction, announced last year and completed on January 9, 2026, also includes a 50% stake in Santander Towarzystwo… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 2:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Global investment bank Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is reportedly preparing to introduce its own digital wallet later this year. This development comes as the firm intensifies its efforts in the digital asset space, aiming to provide clients with enhanced tools for managing tokenized investments. The wallet,… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 1:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant escalation of the ongoing discourse surrounding digital currencies in British elections, the heads of seven parliamentary committees have formally requested that the UK government impose a complete prohibition on cryptocurrency contributions to political organizations. This appeal, detailed in a letter dispatched on… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 12:46 am By Michael Wong  |  

Republic Polytechnic (RP) rolled out a campus-wide artificial intelligence (AI) transformation strategy, pledging to redesign curricula, upskill staff, and broaden partnerships with technology firms as Singapore pushes to build a deeper pipeline of AI-skilled talent. RP said the initiative aims to embed practical and responsible… Read More

January 13, 2026 @ 12:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) is preparing to impose a 5% ceiling on corporate allocations to digital assets. This development, highlighted in recent reports from local outlets like Seoul Economic Daily, signals a cautious yet progressive shift in the nation’s regulatory landscape. The FSC… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 11:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

X, the social media platform led by Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, is gearing up to roll out a significant upgrade to how users discuss financial markets. Announced by Nikita Bier, X’s Head of Product, the new Smart Cashtags feature promises to bring greater… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 10:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has signaled it might pull its backing from a key market structure bill if the legislation goes beyond requiring better transparency and instead curbs rewards for stablecoin users. This development, highlighted in a recent Bloomberg update, underscores growing tensions in Washington‘s push for… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 9:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tether has immobilized over $182 million worth of its USDT stablecoin in five separate addresses on the Tron network. This action took place on January 11, as revealed by blockchain transaction records and alerts from monitoring service Whale Alert. The affected wallets held amounts varying… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 8:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Zillow (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is recognized as one of the go-to platforms for homebuyers searching for properties, yet the bulk of its revenue stems from real estate listing agents who pay for leads. Under CEO Jeremy Wacksman, the company is increasingly shifting focus toward… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 8:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alphabet‘s (aka Google) (NASDAQ:GOOG) drone subsidiary, Wing, unveiled plans on Sunday to broaden its rapid delivery network in partnership with retail giant Walmart (NYSE:WMT). This year alone, the service is set to reach an extra 150 Walmart outlets, bringing ultrafast, on-demand drone shipments to shoppers… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 3:50 pm By JD Alois  |  

Digital asset firm Ripple has been approved in the UK as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The firm was approved on January 9, 2026, under RIPPLE MARKETS UK LTD. Via a post on X, Ripple said that it had… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 2:19 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

  Harry Temkin has seen plenty of development throughout his decades in Fintech. 2026 sees him as excited as he has ever been for what comes next. Temkin is the chief digital officer at DriveWealth, one of the most innovative companies in the space. As… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 2:02 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has launched a new crypto regulatory framework. According to a statement distributed by the DFSA, they have monitored market developments over the past three years, while working with policy counterparts and industry insiders to ensure the new rules are… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 1:44 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

ChannelEngine’s Marketplace Shopping Behavior Report 2026, reveals that while AI is now part of the shopping journey, trust, transparency, and confidence still determine where purchases are completed. Based on a survey of 4,500 marketplace shoppers across the US, UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, the… Read More

January 12, 2026 @ 1:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Alphabet (Google) (NASDAQ:GOOG) is introducing a suite of advanced artificial intelligence tools designed to elevate the retail experience. These innovations focus on streamlining product discovery, simplifying purchases, and enabling smarter upselling strategies. By leveraging AI, Google aims to tap into the growing trend of agentic… Read More