July 2, 2026 @ 9:18 am By JD Alois  |  

Venture capital (VC) funding has hit an all time global high for the first 6 months of 2026. This is according to data compiled by Crunchbase. The report shares that $510 billion was raised from January to June 2026 compared to $440 billion during the… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 9:05 am By JD Alois  |  

The race to be approved under European Markets in Crypto Asset regulatoin (MiCA) is on. The deadline for being approved was yesterday, July 1, 2026. This means, providers previously offering crypto services must cease operations if they have not received approval by a relevant authority…. Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 8:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs has released its analysis of cryptocurrency hacks and exploits during the first half of 2026, painting a picture of heightened activity alongside reduced financial impact. The period saw a record 207 distinct incidents—the highest count in any six-month span tracked… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 7:57 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Juniper Research has released a whitepaper examining the accelerating adoption of network tokenization in the fintech and payments sector. Titled The Top Three Drivers of Network Tokenization Adoption, the analysis explores the current state of the market, its effects across various payment types, and its… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 7:51 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has published new insights highlighting how programmable money is reshaping enterprise payments. The company’s recent guide details how blockchain technology allows digital currency to carry automated instructions, moving beyond simple transfers to execute complex business logic directly onchain…. Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 2:05 am By Omar Faridi  |  

PitchBook’s research team released its June 2026 Global Markets Snapshot on June 30, providing a clear view of performance across public equities, private capital, debt, real estate, and commodities. The report captures a month of solid equity gains amid regional differences, continued deployment in private… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 1:04 am By Omar Faridi  |  

OKX has launched OKX AI, a new marketplace that enables artificial intelligence agents to find work, collaborate with each other, complete tasks, and receive payments entirely on the blockchain. The platform represents a significant expansion for the cryptocurrency exchange into infrastructure supporting autonomous software systems… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 12:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A broad alliance of more than 140 companies from the payments, technology, and banking sectors has formed a new venture to issue a dollar-pegged stablecoin aimed at expanding the practical use of digital tokens in everyday business activities. The consortium, operating under the name Open… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 12:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The London Stock Exchange has internally modeled a severe contingency scenario in which up to 200 companies could potentially shift aspects of their listings or primary trading activity from the United Kingdom to the United States. This planning exercise underscores deepening worries about the attractiveness… Read More

July 2, 2026 @ 12:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On July 1, 2026, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis published a detailed examination of a major sanctions update targeting the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added 134 cryptocurrency wallet addresses linked to the group… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 10:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has rolled out a significantly improved version of its Corporate App, delivering a more intuitive and efficient mobile banking platform tailored for corporate and small-to-medium enterprise (SME) clients across Qatar. The upgraded application introduces a completely refreshed user interface designed to… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 5:11 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crédit Agricole, Mastercard (NYSE:MA), and Worldline [Euronext: WLN] have successfully completed the first agentic payment transaction in a live production environment in France. Announced on June 25, 2026, this achievement represents a major step forward in integrating artificial intelligence into everyday financial transactions while preserving security,… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 4:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Robinhood  (NASDAQ: HOOD) announced multiple new features and services at an event held in London today. According to a note from the firm, Robinhood UK will soon offer crypto trading services in the country. Robinhood described the new service as part of thier mission to… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 3:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

A research report from NYDIG, titled “Quantum: Buy the Migration, Not the Machine,” argues that recent US government policy shifts have turned quantum computing risks into a near-term infrastructure spending cycle. The analysis, authored by Greg Cipolaro and released on June 26, 2026, centers on… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 2:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, the MENA region financial technology platform, has obtained two significant licenses from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). The consumer finance license and SME finance license mark an important step forward, allowing the company to provide more flexible payment solutions for larger purchases and support… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 1:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

Meta (NASDAQ:META) was in talks with Kalshi about a potential acquisition prior to its decision to launch its own prediction market. According to reports, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour in 2025. While the details remain unclear, the discussion fell apart… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 12:32 pm By JD Alois  |  

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins spoke at the Economic Club of New York this week discussing the benefits of free markets while stating enforcement at the Commission has too frequently been used as a policy tool. Invoking the legacy of Adam Smith, author… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 12:00 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

LMAX Group and Standard Chartered (LON: STAN) have executed the first live trades under a digital asset prime brokerage model. The pilot transactions involved spot Bitcoin (XBT/USD) and Ether (XET/USD) pairs, settled on a T+1 basis through Standard Chartered’s UK branch. This marks the bank’s… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 11:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

MX Technologies has introduced a new enterprise-grade conversational AI assistant that brings natural-language financial intelligence directly into digital banking platforms. Announced recently this past month, the tool is built to convert enriched consumer financial data into instant answers, forward-looking forecasts, and structured workflows that stay… Read More

July 1, 2026 @ 11:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

NatWest Group has finalized its purchase of Evelyn Partners, a transaction valued at an enterprise level of £2.7 billion that closed on 30 June 2026. The move combines two established wealth businesses and creates the United Kingdom’s largest private banking and wealth management operation by… Read More