December 22, 2023 @ 6:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Leonteq AG (SIX: LEON) has reportedly acquired a 10% stake in the Swiss stock exchange BX Swiss. Leonteq thus becomes a shareholder of BX Swiss and “expands its ecosystem with an important player in the Swiss financial market.” With the acquisition of a 10% stake… Read More

December 22, 2023 @ 4:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

American Express (NYSE: AXP) announced it is expanding Card Member and Merchant protection by launching SafeKey EMV 3-D Secure 2.3 capabilities. American Express is the first network “to upgrade to SafeKey 2.3, underscoring its commitment to providing a secure checkout experience.” Through SafeKey 2.3, American… Read More

December 22, 2023 @ 4:11 am By Michael Wong  |  

Sumitomo Life Insurance Company (Sumitomo Life) has agreed to acquire all shares of Singapore digital insurer Singlife held by TPG, which currently owns about 35% of the insurtech firm. Furthering its investment, Sumitomo Life plans to extend offers to purchase shares from the remaining shareholders… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 7:41 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Saudi Arabian fintech savings platform Hakbah has successfully raised $5.1 million in a Series A funding round, a substantial boost for the savings platform’s growth and innovation strategies. The round was anchored by venture capital firm VentureSouq and backed by new investors M-Capital and Bunat… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 5:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Tabby, the MENA’s shopping and financial services app, has secured up to $700 million in receivables securitization from J.P. Morgan. The deal represents the largest asset-backed facility “obtained by a fintech company in the MENA region.” In parallel to the securitization financing, Tabby has “extended… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 12:59 pm By Michael Wong  |  

SOMA Finance,a joint venture between MANTRA and Tritaurian Capital, has launched the first components of its hybrid decentralized digital platform, SOMA.finance. The platform, operated by Tritaurian, is set to be the world’s first compliant hybrid decentralized exchange and launchpad. It is noteworthy as the first… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 12:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In October of this yuear, Judges for the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals had reportedly provided the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a 30-day period ion order to “correct defects in the rule,” while noting that the agency had violated the Administrative Procedure… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 12:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

iCapital, a global fintech platform enabling access to alternative investments for the wealth management industry, has partnered with investor services group IQ-EQ to establish a new series of French domiciled funds, which will “increase access for individual investors resident in France to global alternative investment… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 11:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

With Christmas around the corner, small and medium-sized businesses across the UK are hoping for a much-needed surge in customer spending. Research from iwoca, which claims to be one of Europe’s largest small business lenders, reveals “that more than two in five (44%) SME owners… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 11:27 am By Omar Faridi  |  

There is reportedly a strong correlation between a bank’s technology choices and its performance, showing that overall success hinges “on deft use of technology rather than on simply spending more on technology,” according to an update from Bain & Company. Bain & Company analysis finds… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 11:12 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Really, a platform delivering weekly Augmented Reality (AR) experiences for theatrical release movies, aims to enhance these AR experiences for the entertainment industry by leveraging Avalanche‘s “scalable” blockchain in new offerings. The offerings include an upgrade “to the Really Collectible Ticket Program and new fan… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 9:36 am By Omar Faridi  |  

International money transfer provider, Atlantic Money, has compared purchase prices in various random samples across currencies and borders, “uncovering unnecessary extra costs consumers often unwittingly pay.” Focusing on luxury items to demonstrate the impact, Atlantic Money has reportedly “analyzed the same listings for pound and… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 9:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Uber for Business, Uber’s enterprise arm, announced it has integrated with leading expense management providers Brex and Ramp. The integrations will automate receipt matching “for Uber rides and meals, which rank among the most-expensed items for employees.” This will help companies “of all sizes simplify… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 8:45 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Thredd, the issuer payments platform, announced that 2023 will deliver the “best” performance in the company’s history. With strong support from investors including Advent International, Viking Capital, Temasek and Mission OG, Thredd expanded its leadership role in “the payment ecosystem, driving client-centric expansion across global… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 8:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Over a quarter (27%) of British small and medium-sized businesses have “admitted to being owed between £5,000 and £20,000 in unpaid invoices” according to research by Payit, NatWest’s open banking payments solution. The impact of late payments has been felt “across the country, with SMEs… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 7:37 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Yonder, the modern rewards credit card, has extended its relationship with GoCardless, the bank payment company, by “adding Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs) alongside the Direct Debit functionality it uses already.” Via GoCardless’ Instant Bank Pay, Yonder cardholders, or ‘members’, can now use VRPs to instantly… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 7:11 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Ripple, the enabler of enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, announced that the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has added its Irish subsidiary Ripple Markets Ireland Limited to its list of registered Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). The decision will support Ripple’s business since, “as a… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 6:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Gemini are pleased to announce that the firm has been named as custodian on the 7RCC Global Bitcoin and Carbon Credit Futures ETF application, which was filed recently with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Gemini claims that it has been a key player… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 5:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Virgin Money has announced the launch of a new pension offering, enhancing its digital platform and further extending its partnership with FNZ. The digital investment solution was initially “launched in April 2023, and aimed to make investments more accessible, straightforward and transparent for UK retail… Read More

December 21, 2023 @ 3:10 am By Michael Wong  |  

Abu Dhabi-based Changer.ae has been granted a license by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a cryptocurrency custodian service. As the first regionally built, independent virtual asset custody provider in the UAE, Changer addresses the increasing… Read More