August 25, 2025 @ 9:51 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

The Crypto Council for Innovation led a series of industry associations this week that supported President Donald Trump’s nomination of Brian Quintenz as chairman of the CFTC. The Council said his prompt confirmation “is essential to accomplishing the proactive agenda your Administration has established to… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 9:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

SBI Group, one of Japan’s financial conglomerates with the USD equivalent of over $200 billion in total assets, and Chainlink, the so-called “industry-standard” oracle platform, announced a partnership focused on accelerating blockchain and digital asset adoption across global markets. Japan’s financial market and evolving digital… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 9:30 am By JD Alois  |  

Old Glory Bank, a conservative affiliated financial institution, is raising growth capital online under the Reg A+ exemption, which opens up the sale of securities to non-accredited investors. Old Glory Bank, based in Oklahoma but offering digital banking services nationwide, is described as “pro-American” and… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 8:38 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

SoFi (NASDAQ: SOFI) and infrastructure provider Lightspark are teaming up to deliver the former’s upcoming international money transfer service. It enables members to send funds abroad directly from the SoFi app. Lightspark, an enterprise infrastructure provider that uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network, will enable the… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 7:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency ecosystem is undergoing a maturation phase, marked by increasing regulatory clarity, growing governmental adoption of Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, and significant market dynamics. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong has emerged as an active voice in the web3 space, offering insights into Bitcoin’s… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 6:57 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Zum Rails – an instant payments ecosystem and embedded finance provider, has launched its new suite of Mastercard–powered prepaid card programs across most of Canada, save for British Columbia.   These reloadable cards will enable businesses to offer expense management, wage access, consumer rewards, and… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 6:47 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

The annual Jackson Hole gathering closed with what may well prove to be Jerome Powell’s last major act before the September meeting — and while he resisted committing to a cut, the stage remains set for one, predicts Nigel Green, CEO of global financial advisor… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 2:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ten UK regions have recorded a rise in startup activity in the first half of 2025, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s entrepreneurial sector. According to the New Startup Index from NatWest and Beauhurst, the North East saw the fastest relative growth, with over 10,000… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 1:56 am By Michael Wong  |  

Turkish investment platform Midas has secured $80 million in a Series B round, bringing its total capital raised to more than $140 million as it expands offerings and strengthens security infrastructure. The round, which the company claimed as the largest fundraising by a fintech in… Read More

August 25, 2025 @ 1:45 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

YouHodler’s Chief of Markets, Ruslan Lienkha, discusses recent crypto movements in this Q&A. Bitcoin has corrected only 8% after its latest ATH, compared to 30% in January. Does this signal a more mature, resilient market structure? “I would be cautious about calling this increased resilience. The current… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 11:53 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the world’s largest smart contract platform (in terms of overall adoption), has reached a key milestone, surpassing $4,869 for the first time. The breakthrough seemingly marks a key moment for the blockchain platform, which has seen a… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 10:37 pm By Michael Wong  |  

London-listed TBC Bank Group said it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in OLX Uzbekistan, one of the country’s most visited online classifieds platforms, in a move that expands its fast-growing digital banking ecosystem in Central Asia. The acquisition, from OLX Group, the classifieds… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 8:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The UAE Central Bank’s Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF) has partnered with HSBC Bank, Al Maryah Community Bank and technology firms Presight and Core42 to explore artificial intelligence applications in financial services, the central bank said. The collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen cybersecurity… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 6:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain technology is reshaping the global financial and technological landscape, emerging as a force that potentially redefines how we think about ownership, settlement, and economic systems. A recent analysis from a16zcrypto highlights the profound impact of blockchains, describing them as a programmable, open, and inherently… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 5:43 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Definite, a full-stack artificial intelligence-native data platform, said it raised $10 million in seed funding led by venture capital firm Costanoa, with participation from Acrew Capital and strategic angel investors. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and expand go-to-market hiring as the… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 5:37 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

Web3 was closely watching this week’s action out of Jackson Hole. Industry figures share their thoughts below. “Powell’s Jackson Hole speech struck a positive tone for markets, with investors now largely pricing in a rate cut as soon as September. He signalled that the Fed’s… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 5:30 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The United Arab Emirates’ Cyber Security Council said on Sunday that more than 12,000 security breaches have been recorded across Wi-Fi networks nationwide since January, representing approximately 35% of all cyberattacks in the country this year. The council warned of escalating risks from untrusted wireless… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 1:14 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The tokenization of Real World Assets (RWAs) is reshaping the financial landscape, bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. By bringing assets like real estate, commodities, and securities onto blockchain networks, tokenization unlocks unprecedented opportunities for efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. However, as outlined… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 1:01 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Pattern Group, an e-commerce accelerator that helps brands expand across global online marketplaces, filed for a US initial public offering (IPO) after posting a 35% jump in revenue in the first half of 2025. The Lehi, Utah-based company reported net income of $47 million on… Read More

August 24, 2025 @ 12:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The U.S. initial public offering (IPO) market for venture capital (VC)-backed companies in 2025 is showing signs of cautious optimism, yet significant hurdles remain, according to PitchBook’s Q3 2025 Analyst Note, Navigating the New Standards for VC-Backed IPOs. The research report from PitchBook highlights a… Read More