A new Islamic digital bank preparing to launch in West Africa, a US fintech expanding into Europe through acquisition, and a funding round backing digital asset infrastructure are among the latest developments shaping the global fintech landscape.
Several announcements this week highlight how fintech firms are scaling internationally, building new payments capabilities and targeting underserved customer segments, from freelancers and small businesses to consumers seeking alternative banking models.
Cloud banking platform selected for Africa’s first Islamic neobank
Cloud banking technology provider Mambu has been selected to deliver the core banking infrastructure for NylaBank, which is positioning itself as Africa’s first Islamic neobank.
The digital bank is preparing to launch in Ghana before expanding across West Africa, offering financial products designed to comply with Shari’ah principles. Islamic finance prohibits interest-based lending and focuses on profit-sharing models and ethical investment.
Using Mambu’s cloud-native banking platform, NylaBank plans to build a fully digital financial services ecosystem that includes savings, payments and financing solutions aligned with Islamic banking requirements.
The launch comes as demand grows for digital financial services and alternative banking models in Africa, where millions of consumers and small businesses remain underserved by traditional banks.
Ramp acquires Billhop to expand into Europe
US fintech platform Ramp has acquired Sweden-based payments company Billhop as it moves to expand its operations into the UK and European markets.
Billhop enables businesses to pay suppliers using credit cards even when those suppliers accept only bank transfers. The capability allows companies to extend payment terms, manage cash flow more effectively and streamline accounts payable processes.
By integrating Billhop’s technology into its spend management platform, Ramp aims to offer enhanced international payments capabilities while establishing a foothold in the European fintech ecosystem.
The acquisition reflects a broader trend of US fintech companies expanding globally to meet demand for modern financial tools among growing digital-first businesses.
Noah and Hurupay target global freelancer payments
Payments infrastructure provider Noah has partnered with Hurupay to simplify cross-border payments for freelancers and remote workers by combining Noah’s payment infrastructure with Hurupay’s freelancer-focused financial services platform to enable faster and more cost-efficient global payouts.
Freelancers working with international clients frequently face payment delays, high transaction costs and complex currency conversions. The companies say their integration is designed to streamline global payment flows and improve transparency around international settlements.
As the global freelance and creator economy continues to expand, financial platforms are increasingly developing specialised payment tools for independent workers operating across borders.
MetaComp raises $35M to scale digital asset infrastructure
Singapore-based fintech MetaComp has secured $35 million in a pre-Series A funding round aimed at accelerating development of its digital asset and financial services infrastructure.
The company provides services spanning digital asset custody, blockchain-based financial solutions and payments infrastructure. The new funding will support technology development, regulatory compliance initiatives and expansion into additional markets.
Investment in digital asset infrastructure continues to attract attention from investors as fintech companies explore tokenized finance and new blockchain-based financial services.
Papaya powers launch of new European fintech app
Malta-based fintech provider Papaya Ltd has helped power the launch of a new European financial services app called Blackcat.
The mobile-first application is designed to offer consumers digital financial tools such as payments and money management features through a simplified mobile platform.
Papaya provided the underlying technology infrastructure supporting the rollout, highlighting the growing role of fintech infrastructure providers in enabling new digital banking and payments services across Europe.
Sources: Ramp, MetaComp, Blackcatcard, Hurupay, Mambu.
