January 16, 2025 @ 1:43 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

From a 7-year low in dealmaking to M&A gaining steam, industry researchers break down key changes in the fintech landscape using CBInsights data. Fintech funding and dealmaking declined again year-over-year (YoY) in 2024, hitting their “lowest levels in 7 years,” the report from CBInsights revealed…. Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 1:30 pm By JD Alois  |  

A report from online lender Biz2Credit claims that SME earnings cratered during the fourth quarter of 2024. According to the firm, there was a noted decline in activity during December. The Small Business Earnings Report for December 2024 indicates that the average monthly net income was $83,083… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 12:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Tokyo University of Science in Japan shares that a recent “breakthrough” will improve AI applications in finance, weather forecasting, and speech recognition. The innovation involves reservoir computing (RC). Researchers Dr. Masanobu Inubushi and Ms. Akane Ohkubo at the university have developed a “novel readout… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 12:00 pm By JD Alois  |  

Blackrock (NASDAQ:BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, reported over $11.6 trillion in assets as of the fourth quarter – a record amount. The growth in assets fueled a rise in earnings of $1.67 billion, or an EPS of $10.63, from $1.38 billion, or an EPS… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 11:01 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CoinGecko noted in a report that Bitcoin’s fourth halving in 2024 marked the start of the cryptocurrency market’s fourth bull cycle, though “not in ways many had anticipated.” CoinGecko pointed out that the web3 and digital assets market’s momentum was significantly driven by macroeconomic policy… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 10:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In the Web3 space, new tokens are constantly emerging, the team at CertiK noted while pointing out that these new tokens may not be safe and could pose certain (serious) risks for holders and traders. CertiK revealed that in the past few months, their security… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 10:19 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

Banking-focused data insights platform Wealth Access this week announced an integration with Q2’s Digital Banking Platform, via the Q2 Partner Accelerator Program. Q2 Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: QTWO) provides digital transformation solutions for financial services. Wealth Access’ integration with the Q2 Digital Banking Platform allows financial institutions to access their… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 9:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

European investment platform Bondora noted recently that the year 2024 ended with growth. According to a blog post by Bondora, December marked another month of sustainable increases, with loans issued by Bondora AS, part of the Bondora Group, increasing by “11.2% month-on-month, reaching a total… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 8:29 am By JD Alois  |  

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has shared that it has settled with crypto lender Plutus Lending, LLC by paying a civil penalty of $1.65 million. According to the SEC, Plutus, doing business as Abra, offered a retail crypto asset lending product, Abra Earn –… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES), a global alternative investment manager, announced today the final closing of its sixth commingled European direct lending fund, Ares Capital Europe VI. With total commitments of €17.1 billion, the Fund closed above its €15 billion target and reached its hard… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 8:15 am By Omar Faridi  |  

DARAG Group, a legacy acquirer with a focus on the European and UK market, and wefox Insurance AG, the Liechtenstein-domiciled insurance carrier of wefox Group, announced the transfer of a run-off “portfolio including Motor Damage and Third Party Liability, Private Liability and Property business across… Read More

January 16, 2025 @ 8:13 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Zilch, a fintech payments innovator of the “ad-subsidized” payments network (ASPN), announces the launch of Zilch Travel. This partnership will reportedly make booking and paying for holidays “easier and more rewarding.” Powered by lastminute.com, a European Travel-Tech firm, the partnership aims to enhance Zilch customers’… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 11:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Juno Technologies says it has raised $1 million to pursue its artificial intelligence service that aims to improve loan processing for small firms. Fuel Ventures led the funding round with contributions from Zinc and other Angel investors. Juno AI is described as a generative AI… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 11:07 pm By JD Alois  |  

UK inflation (Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers’ housing costs – CPIH) declined slightly in an unexpected development. Inflation was measured at an annual rate of 2.5% in December, down from November at 2.6%. On a monthly basis, the consumer price index rose by 0.3%… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 4:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ramirez Asset Management, Inc., a fixed income and equity investment manager serving institutional investors and high net worth investors, has reportedly acquired the private credit opportunities strategy team and their assets from hedge fund manager Avenue Capital Group. The acquisition, which closed on Oct 1,… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 4:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The CommBank Household Spending Insights (HSI) Index fell by 1.8 per cent in December 2024 after a “strong” Black Friday sales spending boost in November of last year. As noted in the latest report from Australia‘s CommBank, the fall was driven by an “8.3 percent… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 4:45 pm By JD Alois  |  

Representative French Hill, the new House Financial Services Committee Chairman, has announced a new entity: the Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Task Force. Representative Frank Lucas (OK-03) will lead the new Task Force. Hill said the reason for the Task Force was… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

It’s been a tough few years with challenging inflation, high interest rates, and tepid capital markets. While there are many indications the world has turned the corner, for Fintechs and access to capital, 2024 was a dismal year. Innovate Finance, a UK association that advocates… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:05 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The North East and London were once again the two “standout performers” in terms of regional business activity growth in December, according to the latest NatWest UK Regional Growth Tracker. Higher business activity was recorded in “three of the 12 nations and regions in December.”… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 12:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Dr. Sean Dawson, Head of Research at the “decentralized” on-chain options AI-powered platform, Derive.xyz (TVL $128M, $12.3B trade volume), has shared key insights focused on Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) markets. Dr. Sean Dawson, Head of Research at Derive.xyz noted that in the last 24… Read More