FinTech
Digital payments alone could become a $100 trillion industry, according to PwC. And that’s just one component of the global Fintech industry. This channel tackles the lenders and buyers, the obstacles and achievements, and the trends and trend makers leading the ongoing technological evolution in global finance.
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Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched its Crypto app in the European Union (EU), allowing eligible customers to engage in crypto trading with the added incentive of earning Bitcoin rewards. Customers stand to receive up to 1 BTC as a reward when signing up and can earn an additional 1 BTC for each successful referral. The platform claims to be the sole custodial crypto platform in the EU offering customers a percentage of their trading volume back every month, paid in Bitcoin.
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More Stories on FinTech
FinTech: Mastercard Buys Stake In MTN’s Fintech Unit For Undisclosed Amount
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) is set to acquire a minority stake in the financial technology division of MTN (JSE: MTN), South Africa’s largest mobile company, which focuses on payments and remittances. The valuation of this division is over $5 billion. The investment is expected to be finalized soon and is seen as a significant step in MTN’s fintech services expansion.
FinTech: Africa-Focused, Mobility Financier Moove Raises $78M
African-founded mobility fintech, Moove, has secured a substantial investment to further its mission of revolutionizing financial services for mobility gig workers. The company has raised a total of $76 million in new funding, comprising $28 million in equity from both existing and new investors, $10 million in venture debt from funds managed by BlackRock, and an undisclosed $38 million raised over the past year.
FinTech: SumUp Amasses $100M Firepower To Lend To UK Merchants
SumUp has introduced a novel cash advance solution for merchants to address the escalating costs of running their businesses. This offering, known as SumUp Cash Advance, involves the repayment of advances through transactions carried out on SumUp’s card readers. To facilitate the launch and implementation of this initiative, SumUp has secured a credit facility of $100 million from Victory Park Capital (VPC), an alternative investment firm.
FinTech: Sweater Launches Platform To Boost Inclusivity In Venture Investing
Sweater, a pioneering fintech company, has unveiled an innovative venture, the Public VC Funds platform, which marks a breakthrough in the traditional venture capital landscape. This groundbreaking offering enables qualified partners to establish their own venture capital funds, opening the doors for participation by their communities and the general public, regardless of accreditation status.
FinTech: Vijay Shekhar Sharma, CEO Paytm, To Buy 10.3% In The Company From China’s Ant Group
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chairman and CEO of Paytm (NSE: PAYTM), is set to acquire a 10.3% stake worth $628 million in the company he founded. The stake is being purchased from an affiliate of Chinese fintech giant Ant Financial. This move will make Sharma the largest shareholder in Paytm, with a total holding of 19.42%.
Digital Assets: PayPal Is The First Major Finance Company In The USA To Issue A Stablecoin
PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) has introduced a stablecoin called PayPal USD (PYUSD), which is backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. treasuries, and similar cash equivalents. The stablecoin can be redeemed 1:1 for U.S. dollars. This move is aimed at harnessing the potential of stablecoins in web3 and digital native environments. PayPal USD is designed for digital payments and Web3 compatibility and will be accessible on various platforms.
FinTech: Mastercard Dispenses With CVC For Tokenized Cards Used Online In India
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has introduced CVC-less (Cardholder Verification Code) online transactions for tokenized debit and credit cards in India. This move aims to enhance security and streamline the payment process. CVC is the three-digit number printed on the back of debit and credit cards.
FinTech: Credit Card Fintech Petal Amasses $240M In Debt And Equity To Expand Credit Card Biz
Petal, a credit card and financial technology company, has secured a $200 million debt facility from Victory Park Capital (VPC), an alternative investment firm. Additionally, Petal has obtained a new term loan facility with Trinity Capital (NASDAQ: TRIN) for up to $20 million and raised $20 million in equity funding from existing investors. The influx of capital will support Petal’s expansion and growth as the U.S. open banking sector emerges.
FinTech: Melio’s New Pay Over Time Product Puts BNPL In The Hands Of Small Businesses
Melio, a leading B2B payments platform for small businesses, has introduced a new product called “Pay Over Time,” offering flexible payment terms to help small businesses pay vendors and bills. Powered by Credit Key, the service allows eligible small businesses to access up to $50,000 in capital instantly through their Melio account. With Pay Over Time, business owners can choose to pay their bills in monthly installments over an extended period, while ensuring their vendors receive full and timely payments.
FinTech: Rapyd To Pay $610M For Large Chunk Of Prosus’ Payments Business
Fintech-as-a-Service provider Rapyd has acquired PayU Global Payment Organisation (GPO) from Prosus for $610 million excluding its India, Turkey, and Southeast Asia operations. PayU GPO offers payment solutions in emerging markets across more than 30 countries.
FinTech: SBA Lending To Undergo Major Changes That Could Benefit Fintechs
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is making significant changes to its federal program for small-business lending, the most extensive overhaul in decades. The reforms, effective August 1, aim to simplify loan requirements, automate processes, and expand the pool of nonbank lenders authorized to issue SBA loans, particularly benefiting financial-technology firms.
FinTech: Nigerian Fintech Fastamoni Launches EduPali, An Education Payments Platform
FastaMoni Technologies, a Nigerian fintech startup, has recently introduced EduPali, an innovative online platform aimed at addressing the significant challenges associated with high education expenses and limited educational access in Africa.
Venture Capital: Lvrch Capital Scores $400M Series D Round
Lvrch Capital Advisory, a prominent investment firm, has achieved a major milestone by successfully raising $400 million in a Series D funding round, further cementing its position as an innovation leader in the financial industry. Building on its prior success of securing $200 million in the Series C funding round, the firm is now focused on adapting its investment approach to meet evolving market conditions and ensure long-term financial stability for investors while delivering exceptional results.
FinTech: AI-Enabled Fintech Platform TIFIN Launches TIFIN.ai With J.P. Morgan As Investor
TIFIN and J.P. Morgan (NYSE: JPM) have announced the launch of TIFIN.ai, a platform dedicated to conceiving and developing a new cohort of AI-powered fintech companies. Building upon the success of TIFIN Studios, which created five companies between 2018 and 2021, TIFIN.ai aims to accelerate thematic AI-powered fintech innovation in wealth management across various use cases, including client portfolio insights, alternative investing, workplace wealth management, and insurance.
Fintech: Plaid And Cross River Team To Offer Real-Time Payments
Cross River Bank, a provider of technology infrastructure and embedded financial solutions, has announced an extension of its partnership with Plaid, a data network that supports the digital financial ecosystem. Together, they aim to offer multi-rail payment solutions to businesses and customers in the United States.
FinTech: Shopify Unveils Shopify Credit, A Credit Card For Its Merchant Sellers
Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) has introduced a new business credit card, Shopify Credit, exclusively for its merchants. The card is powered by Stripe and issued by Celtic Bank, accepted everywhere Visa is.
FinTech: European Challenger Bank bunq Builds On Solid Growth With €100M Raise
Despite a downturn in the market, bunq has managed to secure €44.5M in growth capital, adding up to a total of almost €100M in funding raised this year. The significant injection of fresh capital enables the mobile bank, currently the second largest neobank in the EU, to push forward with its international expansion plans and sustain its rapid growth. Notably, existing investors Ali Niknam, Pollen Street Capital, and Raymond Kasiman showed confidence in the company’s potential by participating in the funding round, valuing bunq at €1.65 billion.
FinTech: As Virtual Cards Catch On With Enterprises, Mastercard Launches Receivables Manager
Mastercard (NYSE: MA) has launched a new automated solution called Mastercard Receivables Manager, aimed at streamlining businesses’ acceptance and processing of virtual card payments. As virtual cards gain popularity in B2B transactions, the need for an efficient and secure payment processing solution has grown.
FinTech: TP24 Gets £345M In Funding From Barclays And M&G Investments To Boost Lending To SMEs
TP24, a fintech company specializing in flexible revolving business credit, has secured £345m in debt funding from Barclays Bank Plc (LON: BARC) and M&G Investments, both based in the UK. Out of this funding, £240m will be allocated for lending to SMEs in the UK and the Netherlands. Barclays is contributing up to £200m as warehouse financing, while M&G is providing up to £40m as mezzanine funding.
FinTech: BNPL Leader Klarna Ties With Money Adviser To Offer Customers Free Debt Advice
Klarna, a global payments network and shopping destination, has partnered with the Money Adviser Network to offer free and impartial debt advice to its consumers. Klarna, as the pioneering Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) provider to collaborate with the Money Adviser Network, will guide its customers to debt advice services offered by the network’s members, ensuring round-the-clock support for individuals seeking credit advice.
FinTech: The Central Banks Of Nigeria And Egypt To Collaborate On A “Nigeria-Egypt Fintech Bridge”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) have agreed to establish a Nigeria-Egypt FinTech Bridge. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed during the Seamless North Africa 2023 conference in Cairo.
FinTech: Block Hauls Visa And Mastercard To Court Alleging Overcharging Of Card Fees
Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are currently facing allegations in an antitrust lawsuit. The plaintiff, Block Inc. (NYSE: SQ), formerly known as Square Inc., asserts that Visa (NYSE: V) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) collaborate to manipulate interchange fees, causing inflated costs and maintaining their dominance in the market.
FinTech: As Interest Rates Harden, German Fintech Raisin Anticipates A Deposit Trove of EUR 50B
German fintech firm Raisin expects an increase in deposits sourced through its platforms as lenders seek alternative funding amidst the end of cheap central bank cash. Raisin, backed by investors such as Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Deutsche Bank (ETR: DBK), and PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL), anticipates deposits to exceed €50 billion ($56 billion) this year, with significant growth from the UK and the US.
Fintech: Flywire And Tencent Financial Technology Collaborate To Facilitate International Tuition Payments For Chinese Students
Flywire, a global payments and software company, has partnered with Tencent Financial Technology, the fintech arm of Tencent (HKG: 0700), to provide Chinese students and families who are making education payments abroad the option to use Weixin Pay (also known as WeChat Pay) for these transactions.