September 18, 2025 @ 11:14 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Extend, a spend and expense management platform, has secured $20 million in additional capital, including new venture debt and an equity investment led by B Capital. Additional participation came from March Capital, Point72 Ventures, FinTech Collective, and a new investor, Commerce Ventures. Through its partnerships… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 11:06 am By JD Alois  |  

ECSPR or European Crowdfunding Service Provider regulations were enacted by the European Union in 2021. The complete application took a few years (2023), but today, under the rules, a securities crowdfunding platform may raise up to €5 million (~ $5.89 million) from investors across the… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 9:06 am By JD Alois  |  

Recently, Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) filed a document with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating its intent to enter the age of tokenized, or digital securities. While insiders have long anticipated this inevitable evolution of securities markets, the fact that one of the largest securities exchanges in the… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 8:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Lloyds Banking Group has released key updates focused on a landscape marked by economic recovery signals and persistent fraud threats. The UK Sector Tracker reveals broadening demand growth across key industries, offering a glimmer of optimism for businesses, while a stark warning on romance scams… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 3:43 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a fairly new development for the Ethereum ecosystem, the validator exit queue has surged, reaching over 2.6 million ETH this week, a sharp rise from approximately 617,000 ETH just one week prior. This surge reflects a growing number of validators opting to withdraw their… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 3:28 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The SIX Swiss Exchange has welcomed a new ETF issuer while collaborating on a pivotal upgrade to its settlement infrastructure. These updates from SIX, announced recently this month, seemingly highlight the exchange’s commitment to product development / technology adoption, efficiency, and international alignment in post-trade… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 3:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Google has seemingly entered the web3 and blockchain space with a proposition: the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), which is described as a Layer 1 blockchain designed as a “credibly neutral” platform for regulated institutions, particularly banks, to settle payments. The tech firm’s aim is… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 2:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a boost to Saudi Arabia’s digital payments ecosystem, global payments intelligence company Thunes has announced key developments: a live partnership with mobile wallet provider barq and an expansion of its real-time cross-border payment capabilities directly into the Kingdom. These moves, aligning seamlessly with Saudi… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 1:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a boost for the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing sector, Funding Circle Holdings plc  (LSE: FCH) has announced a partnership renewal that will propel it past the £3 billion total financing milestone. The development, revealed on September 17, 2025, underscores the fintech’s… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 12:55 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) continues to support strategic initiatives that aim to bolster financial stability and value creation. Recent developments, including enhanced regional cooperation with entities like the HKMA, calls for transformational leadership in corporate governance, and a push for risk resilience, underscore… Read More

September 18, 2025 @ 12:50 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK’s Starling Bank is channeling $50 million into expanding its software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, Engine, across the Americas. This strategic push includes the appointment of seasoned fintech executive Jody Bhagat as the head of North American operations, signaling a concerted effort to tap into the region’s… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 11:54 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As the digital economy surges, regulatory frameworks are evolving to ensure secure and seamless online interactions. The European Union’s eIDAS 2.0 regulation may be a pivotal step in this direction, and Jumio, a key player in AI-driven identity verification, has unveiled a solution to help… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 10:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s  Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has issued a call to global cryptocurrency firms to apply for local licenses. The initiative, announced by the finance ministry, aims to integrate Pakistan’s expanding crypto market—estimated to serve 40 million users—into the global digital economy. This development signals… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:54 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) made some rule changes today, and one of them will impact Regulation A (Reg A), a securities exemption utilized for online capital formation. Reg A requires an offering to be qualified by the SEC before commencing a funding round…. Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, cryptocurrency advocates, including Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor and Marathon Digital Holdings CEO Fred Thiel, will converge on Capitol Hill to champion legislation that could position the United States as a major holder of Bitcoin. The proposed bill, if enacted, would… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

BNPL Fintech Affirm Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFRM), the flexible payment solutions provider, has unveiled updates that broaden its “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) offerings across retail, home services, and wellness sectors. Announced this month, these developments seemingly underscore Affirm’s commitment to transparent, consumer-friendly financing amid a… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:39 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In an escalation of efforts to curb Iran’s illicit financial activities, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on September 16, 2025, targeting a sophisticated shadow banking network. This operation, valued at over $600 million in cryptocurrency inflows,… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ZOOZ Power Ltd. (Nasdaq and TASE: ZOOZ) has selected Crypto.com as its key partner to implement a digital asset treasury strategy. Announced on September 16, 2025, this collaboration positions ZOOZ Power as the first dual-listed company on Nasdaq and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE)… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 5:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE: MA) is accelerating its push into the future of finance, blending blockchain tech advancements, improved ATM experiences, AI-driven commerce, and smarter decision-making tools. These updates underscore the company’s commitment to fueling the digital economy through trusted, secure, and user-centric technologies. One highlight is… Read More

September 17, 2025 @ 3:37 pm By JD Alois  |  

Taking the other side of the rate cut discussion, Cato Institute Research Fellow Jai Kedia, believes no rate cut is necessary and there is a risk of greater inflation, which could necessitate a rate increase. “The Fed cut its target for the federal funds rate… Read More