January 12, 2025 @ 7:17 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The digital lending market in the Philippines, which includes registered non-bank digital lenders and digital banks, is projected to surpass $1 billion by the second half of 2025, according to a new analysis by Digido. The growth reflects strong consumer demand for online financial services… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 5:41 pm By JD Alois  |  

Kingscrowd, a data specialist in the securities crowdfunding sector, has provided some data on 2024 activity. While not including Reg D 506c, which is almost impossible to track, Kingscrowd shares information on Reg A and Reg CF, which are available to both Accredited and non-accredited… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 1:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Airwallex, a payments and financial platform for global businesses, has recntly announced its partnership with Carwow, the online car-changing marketplace. Following the integration of Airwallex’s Scale Native API, Carwow can now process “payments for those enterprise dealer groups who purchase cars from thousands of private… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 1:21 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This past week, Fazeshift, an AI agent for accounts receivable, announced it raised $4 million in seed funding led by Gradient, Google’s early-stage AI fund. The round also included investments from Y Combinator, Wayfinder, Pioneer Fund, Ritual Capital, Phoenix Fund, and such angels as Terrence… Read More

January 12, 2025 @ 1:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Mantle, the blockchain ecosystem behind Ethereum layer 2 (L2) Mantle Network and Ether liquid staking protocol mETH Protocol, announced the integration of Ethena’s USDe and Mantle’s mETH on Compound, one of the DeFi lending protocols. This integration supports Mantle’s commitment to fostering synergy within its… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Six years after its market launch, Trade Republic has reportedly doubled its customer base to 8 million. Collectively, these customers manage assets worth 100 billion euro, making Trade Republic the “largest broker” in Europe and strengthening its position as the savings platform. The introduction of… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Kadena, the “scalable” Layer 1 Proof of Work (PoW) blockchain, announces a strategic partnership with Ownera, a Fintech enabling distribution and trading of tokenized assets through their global interconnectivity network. This collab integrates Kadena’s blockchain tech with tokenization applications using Ownera’s FinP2P routers to “connect… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:29 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Lemonway, a European payment institution, announces the launch of Online Onboarding, a solution designed to streamline the merchant onboarding process for marketplaces. As explained in the update, online onboarding eliminates the need for marketplaces to manage new customer onboarding, allowing them “to focus on business… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:15 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, Deep Vector, an AI platform for analyzing underwriting documents, closed its seed round of $1.5M, co-led by Aperture Venture Capital and InsurTech NY. Deep Vector helps insurers and brokers translate the influx of analog documents used for underwriting risk—claims loss runs, Acord forms, motor… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:09 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

nsave, the provider of “compliant” accounts abroad to people from countries with high inflation, announced the launch of an investment product, enabling people at risk of financial exclusion to “protect and grow” their wealth. The company confirmed an $18mn Series A investment led by TQ… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 6:05 pm By Tony Zerucha  |  

The following information was provided by Patrick Skjennum, the co-founder and CTO of anti-money laundering company Strise 1. Evolving sanctions evasion tactics will drive advanced AML capabilities As criminal networks increasingly leverage decentralized finance platforms, unregulated cryptocurrencies, digital twins and synthetic identities to evade sanctions,… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 5:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

TCB Pay, a provider of corporate cards and payment solutions, is pleased to announce the expansion of its services to include Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments. As explained in the announcement, this service cements TCB Pay’s position as an innovator in payment technology, delivering “flexibility,… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 5:52 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Following its 2024 Article IV Consultation with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recognized Hong Kong’s strong standing as an international financial center and endorsed its pathway towards fiscal consolidation. This affirmation came via a concluding statement released… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 3:38 pm By Michael Wong  |  

XTransfer, a China-based business-to-business (B2B) cross-border trade payment platform, has been granted a major payment institution (MPI) license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The license, effective from January 1, 2025, enables XTransfer to offer diverse payment services in Singapore, enhancing its position in… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 11:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Spring Financial, a Canadian financial technology company simplifying the lending process for everyday Canadians, announces the launch of Bloom, an AI-driven financial concierge mobile app for everyday Canadians. Bloom redefines financial management by harnessing Artificial Intelligence to make banking, spending and “budgeting completely transparent and… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 11:21 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

This week, the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) unveiled its new “Repair, Reform, and Thrive” plan for the 119th Congress and the incoming Trump administration to address what it said are “the nation’s broken banking regulations and kickstart economic growth in local communities.” The… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 11:19 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

As Bitcoin’s price surges, it is attracting more thieves. According to the FBI, in 2022, crypto scams resulted in north of $2.57 billion in losses. The average victim lost $54,000. The increasing intersection of cryptocurrency popularity and evolving fraud tactics highlights the critical need for… Read More

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

M^0 has adopted Chainlink infrastructure to deliver net asset value (NAV) data on Ethereum for their “decentralized” stablecoin, $M. ​​By leveraging Chainlink’s SmartData suite of asset servicing solutions, they are “improving the transparency” of $M. The core M^0 protocol is a coordination layer for “permissioned… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 11:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Nium, the infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments,  announced the launch of the Diners Club International Card for its travel customers. This milestone reportedly makes Nium one of the “first” global payment card issuers in the travel space to “offer cards across the four major schemes.”… Read More

January 11, 2025 @ 11:07 am By Michael Wong  |  

The US Senate Banking Committee is reported set to establish its inaugural subcommittee focused on digital assets, marking a significant move just days after Republicans assumed control of the Senate following recent elections. According to reports, this initiative aligns with President-elect Donald Trump’s vision of… Read More