February 9, 2026 @ 11:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Caitlyn Van Valin from Odyssey Trust has indicated that as we step into 2026, the Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, moving beyond its volatile history toward a more stable and professional era. The early 2020s saw an explosive surge,… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 11:43 am By JD Alois  |  

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins is scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee later this week. As Congress holds oversight on the SEC, these are standard hearings. This will be Chairman Atkins’s first appearance before the two… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 11:26 am By JD Alois  |  

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Market Participants Division has reissued CFTC Staff Letter 25-40 with a slight revision to the definition of “payment stablecoin.” According to the CFTC, the revision affects national trust banks, which may be permitted to issue payment stablecoins. Under the GENIUS… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 11:17 am By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Technology Association (FTA) and the American Fintech Council (AFC) have submitted an Amicus Brief in Vickery v. Empower Finance, Inc. and Moss v. Cleo AI, Inc., case requesting that Earned Wage Access (EWA) be distinguished from loans. The groups submitted a brief to the Ninth Circuit… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 10:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In the unpredictable ecosystem of cryptocurrency-facilitated crime, significant updates highlight both the adaptability of underground markets and the intensifying efforts by authorities to dismantle them. Despite global enforcement pushes, TRM Labs noted that some platforms continue to thrive, while others face severe repercussions for their… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:17 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb’s chief executive apologised to users after a recent Bitcoin overpayment incident, as the platform moved to compensate customers and strengthen internal controls. CEO Lee Jae-won said the company “sincerely apologizes for the concern and inconvenience caused,” adding that Bithumb would… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:12 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, Kasada announced Account Intelligence, a product designed to detect account-level fraud and abuse. The goal is to prevent repeat abuse before it creates financial loss and unnecessary friction for real customers. Enterprises are facing account and business-logic abuse that existing bot and fraud… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The the nascent ecosystem of blockchain and decentralized finance, security remains a paramount concern. Blockchain security firm CertiK has recently highlighted critical areas of risk: sophisticated physical coercion tactics known as wrench attacks and technical exploits in cross-chain protocols. These insights underscore the multifaceted nature… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has issued a timely reminder to digital asset service providers (DASPs) about the impending end of a key transitional arrangement under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. This update, released on February 5, 2026, emphasizes the need for prompt… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

KPMG Germany claims that it is at the center of driving transformative solutions for public and private sectors. Recent insights from KPMG highlight advancements in artificial intelligence for effective government operations and operational efficiencies in banking, offering practical frameworks to navigate complex challenges. These developments… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:03 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In another busy week for tech and finance entrepreneur Kris Marszalek, two significant announcements have now captured attention in the fast-growing AI and cryptocurrency sectors. As the founder and CEO of both Crypto.com and the newly established AI.com, Marszalek is steering various projects that blend… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 9:02 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The United Kingdom’s financial sector is showing signs of adaptation and cautious positivity as outlined in recent reports from UK Finance. Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, the organization’s latest Economic Review highlights tentative improvements in business sentiment, while another key update explores the expanding specialist buy-to-let… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 7:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Over the years, Regtech SlowMist has emerged as a key player in safeguarding digital assets. Founded in 2018, by a group of network security professionals, the company says it has spent the past eight years navigating the tumultuous landscape of the industry. From boom-and-bust cycles… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 4:09 am By Omar Faridi  |  

NatWest Group has outlined key strategies in order to bolster homebuyers, entrepreneurs, and everyday financial literacy across the UK. These moves reflect the bank‘s commitment to innovation, partnerships, and community empowerment amid evolving economic challenges. First, NatWest has forged a three-year alliance with Rightmove, the… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 2:24 am By Omar Faridi  |  

During a period of escalating global tensions, Europe stands at a crossroads, grappling with the need for massive investments to bolster its strategic autonomy. According to recent analyses shared by Oliver Wyman, the continent must mobilize an extra €1.2 trillion between 2025 and 2030 to… Read More

February 9, 2026 @ 1:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Card payments in Spain are on track to top $550 billion dollars by 2029, as near-universal access to bank accounts, broad merchant acceptance and the continued shift to contactless transactions accelerate the move toward electronic payments, data provider GlobalData forecast. The value of card payments… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 10:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a time-period marked by technological advancements and geopolitical flux, Citigroup (NYSE: C) has released analyses that shed light on the future of supply chain finance and the broader banking industry. These reports underscore the resilience of global trade systems while highlighting tools like artificial… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 10:27 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

One key trend that will shape 2026 is embedded investing, as more companies across diverse spaces consider adding investing and trading features like microinvesting to their offerings. These are enticing opportunities, but companies considering the move need a detailed and deliberate approach, DriveWealth’s chief digital… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 10:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Investment platform Betterment has fallen victim to a significant cyber intrusion, potentially compromising the personal details of approximately 1.4 million individuals. This incident underscores the persistent vulnerabilities in digital financial services, where even established firms can be targeted by sophisticated threat actors. The breach came… Read More

February 8, 2026 @ 4:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed a 0.1% tax on turnover for each crypto-asset transfer conducted through platforms operated by licensed service providers, under a draft circular released for public consultation, The Hanoi Times reported. Under the draft framework, crypto-asset transfers and trading would be… Read More