January 8, 2026 @ 1:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2025 drew to a close and 2026 begins, a slight decline in borrowing costs failed to spark significant interest among prospective homebuyers. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association‘s latest weekly survey, released on January 7, 2026, overall mortgage application volume dropped 9.7% on a… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 1:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

US private sector employers added a subdued 41,000 jobs in December 2025, marking a recovery from the prior month’s revised loss of 29,000 positions, according to the latest ADP National Employment Report. This figure fell short of economists’ expectations for around 48,000 new roles, highlighting… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 1:53 pm By JD Alois  |  

A relatively new law allows the state of California to claim crypto holdings from accounts deemed inactive. SB 822, The Unclaimed Property Law (UPL), was signed into law by Governor Newsom last October. While the state must make efforts to discover legal holders, after three… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 1:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

There has been a formal submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to increase the funding cap of Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) from the current $5 million to $20 million. A petition to the SEC is a request to issue, change, or repeal a… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 10:28 am By JD Alois  |  

Additional details have emerged regarding JP Morgan’s (NYSE:JPM) acquisition of the Apple Card (NASDAQ:AAPL) business. As reported yesterday, after years of agonizing indecision over Apple’s card offering, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has now agreed to exit the business while taking a $1 billion haircut on existing… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 10:03 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google, has eclipsed Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) in market value for the first time since 2020. As of the close of trading on Wednesday, Alphabet’s valuation reached an impressive $3.88 trillion, narrowly edging out Apple’s $3.84 trillion. This reversal comes… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 9:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Stablecoin issuer and digital assets firm Tether has kicked off 2026 with several key announcements that now aim to underscore its expanding role beyond stablecoins into payments, real-world assets, and artificial intelligence. On January 7, Tether partnered with video platform Rumble to launch Rumble Wallet,… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 8:35 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In the evolving landscape of cyber threats, a sophisticated Android-based malware known as Ghost Tap is now said to be behind a notable increase in fraudulent contactless payments. This malicious software allows cybercriminals to execute tap-to-pay transactions remotely, bypassing the need for direct access to… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 8:10 am By Omar Faridi  |  

As 2026 unfolds, the Fintech sector is seemingly on the cusp of major shifts, driven by stablecoins, artificial intelligence agents, and deeper integrations between traditional banking and digital innovations. Industry professionals anticipate a year where experimental projects evolve into widespread applications, particularly in payments, commerce,… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 8:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bulgarian fintech firm Payhawk, which is said to be a specialist in corporate expense management, is reportedly engaging in preliminary talks for a fresh capital injection that could elevate its valuation to approximately $2 billion. Sources indicate the company aims to secure over $100 million… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 8:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The United Kingdom solidified its position as one of Europe’s leading fintech hubs in 2025, even as emerging markets intensified their pursuit of investment capital. Despite challenging conditions, British fintech firms secured $3.6 billion in funding throughout the year, surpassing the combined totals of the… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 1:44 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitcoin mining focused Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) has divested a substantial portion of its digital assets. The firm recently offloaded Bitcoin valued at approximately $161 million, bringing its total holdings down to 18,005 BTC. This transaction, executed amid fluctuating market conditions, underscores the evolving strategies… Read More

January 8, 2026 @ 12:34 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK’s banking services provider Barclays has acquired a minority stake in Ubyx, a US-based firm specializing in stablecoin settlement infrastructure. This marks Barclays’ inaugural foray into investing in a company focused on stablecoins, underscoring the bank’s ongoing plans to delve into innovative digital financial instruments… Read More

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

Digital bank Revolut is reportedly engaged in discussions to purchase FUPS, a local digital banking platform in Turkey, as a strategic move to introduce its financial services to the Turkish market. Sources close to the matter (cited by Bloomberg) indicate that the potential deal would… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 11:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Private equity firm Hg has struck a deal to acquire OneStream, a provider of enterprise finance management software, for an equity value of roughly $6.4 billion. This all-cash transaction marks OneStream’s return to private ownership just 17 months after its initial public offering, highlighting shifting… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 10:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple Labs President Monica Long emphasized the company’s commitment to private operations, dispelling any near-term prospects of an initial public offering (IPO). This update, shared on January 6, 2026, underscores Ripple’s strategic direction following a successful fundraising round in November 2025. Long highlighted the fintech… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 9:36 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Shares of Bitcoin focused Strategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) experienced a modest uptick in after-hours trading on January 6, 2026. The surge came on the heels of an announcement from global index provider MSCI, which revealed it would temporarily shelve its proposal to remove companies with substantial… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 9:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Stripe has announced a strategic partnership with Crypto.com. This latest collaboration, set to roll out in early 2026, allows Crypto.com users to spend their digital assets at online merchants powered by Stripe’s payment infrastructure. By integrating Crypto.com as the first crypto platform for direct balance… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 9:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

YZi Labs—an investment entity supported by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao—has publicly criticized CEA Industries (NASDAQ: BNC) for implementing what it calls “anti-shareholder” strategies aimed at solidifying the existing leadership’s position. This rebuke highlights a growing rift in a relationship that appeared promising just half a… Read More

January 7, 2026 @ 9:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Amsterdam-based bunq BV has submitted a fresh application to establish itself as a bank in the United States. The company filed for a national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on January 6, 2026, marking its second attempt in… Read More