Hong Kong IPOs Set For a New Record to Surpass $40 Billion in 2026
After regaining its ground as the world’s top IPO market, Hong Kong is readying to set new records, with $40 billion deal volume forecast for 2026 by PwC.
Nina Bobro
Stablecoin Platform KAST Expands Local Payouts to 11 New Currencies
The latest expansion of KAST’s Global Payouts strengthens the bridge between digital assets and everyday financial needs by making it easier for users to convert stablecoin tokens into local fiat currencies worldwide.
Alipay Tap! Surpasses 100 Million Daily Transactions Milestone
Alipay’s Tap! contactless payment service now processes more than 100 million daily transactions, underlining the fast-growing embrace of tap-to-pay and QR-based solutions in China and across Asia.
Crypto Firms in 48 Jurisdictions Required to Collect User Data from January 2026
Worldwide crypto regime CARF has just got activated, with industry players in 48 early-adopter countries obliged to collect user data as 2026 kicks in.
Pros and Cons of AI-Assisted Shopping
People can be divided into two categories: those who love shopping and those who hate it. Interestingly, both types could benefit from AI assistance in the purchase process. However, there are also hidden pitfalls in AI-assisted shopping you should know about.
OpenAI Focuses on Audio-Driven Consumer Experience
As artificial intelligence (AI) assistance increasingly moves from text-based to audio-based, OpenAI doubles down on the development of audio-first consumer-facing experiences for its upcoming personal device launch.
Coinbase Aims to Scale “Everything Exchange” Concept in 2026
This year, crypto-focused Coinbase wants its platform to be a single place where people can trade many different types of assets in multiple formats, eventually turning into a superapp for investing and finance.
AEON Scan-to-Pay Goes Live on X Layer, Bringing Crypto Payments to 50M+ Merchants
AEON’s integration of scan-to-pay with X Layer turns Layer-2 crypto assets into real-world spending tools across more than 50 million merchants in emerging markets.
Institutional Crypto Trading Providers in the U.S.
Crypto trading may have started as a speculative venture for individual enthusiasts, but today, more and more institutions embrace this alternative type of asset allocation as well. Institutional crypto trading is now available in the U.S. as major providers use the opportunities provided by the current pro-crypto regulatory stance.
Italian Fintech System Overview 2025
As 2025 is getting closer to the end, Italy’s Central Bank (Banca d’Italia) is wrapping up the state of the local fintech ecosystem.
Top Global Startup Funding Rounds: December 2025
Across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa, startups secured billions in funding this December. Explore the top deals driving growth in AI, fintech, healthcare, robotics, and sustainable energy as we’re moving towards 2026.
Mastercard Teams Up with Tencent MIDAS to Power Digital Commerce Transformation
Mastercard and Tencent MIDAS have launched a new collaboration designed to speed up, secure, and simplify online payments across the global entertainment economy, making them password-free and fraud-resistant.
BNPL Usage Surges as Holiday Shopping Hits Record Levels
Buy-now-pay-later services are seeing record demand this holiday season, signaling continued adoption among consumers and growing interest from institutional lenders.
Bank of England Cuts Rates to 3.75%, Signalling Shift Toward Economic Support
The Bank of England’s decision to cut its benchmark interest rate to 3.75% is remarkable for the UK economy, with wide-ranging implications for consumers, businesses and the payments sector.
Beyond KYC: Trulioo on Powering Secure Agent-Led Payments in the AI Era
In this conversation, Zac Cohen, Chief Product Officer at Trulioo, shares insights on how the company is advancing secure, AI-driven payments through its integration with Google’s Agent Payments Protocol (AP2).
The True Cost of a Busy Holiday Season: How Payment Inefficiencies Undermine Hospitality Growth
When holiday spirit shows its first signs, hospitality businesses revel in the bookings boom, as thousands of people rush to spend their vacations somewhere nice. And yet, most of the players in the hospitality sector fail to take full advantage of the busy season due to the inefficiencies in their core payment and operational systems.
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