News - page 34

Crypto Policy Crossroads: CBDC Ban Advances in U.S. as Stablecoin Yield Debate Divides Regulators and Industry
Blockchain & Crypto

Crypto Policy Crossroads: CBDC Ban Advances in U.S. as Stablecoin Yield Debate Divides Regulators and Industry

The United States is entering a new phase of cryptocurrency regulation, with lawmakers signaling strong resistance to central bank digital currencies (CBDC) while continuing to shape rules for private digital crypto assets such as stablecoins.

Crypto Platforms Build for the AI Agent Economy While Regulators Warn of New Risks
Blockchain & Crypto

Crypto Platforms Build for the AI Agent Economy While Regulators Warn of New Risks

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency is entering a new phase, with crypto platforms beginning to build infrastructure specifically designed for autonomous AI agents while regulators warn about the growing influence of AI-driven financial advice on younger investors.

Fintech News Digest: New Islamic Neobank Plans African Launch, Payments Shake-Ups in Europe and the Freelancer Economy, and a $35M Funding Round
Fintech & Ecommerce

Fintech News Digest: New Islamic Neobank Plans African Launch, Payments Shake-Ups in Europe and the Freelancer Economy, and a $35M Funding Round

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.

Experian and OpenAI Bring Credit Data at Consumer Fingertips With OpenAI Integration
Fintech & Ecommerce

Experian and OpenAI Bring Credit Data at Consumer Fingertips With OpenAI Integration

On of the authorised credit reporting agencies, Experian aims to help potential borrowers understand the benchmark credit score ratings in simpler terms, letting ChatGPT users in UK to access average credit score data for their location or demographic group.

Mastercard Responds to Europe’s Payments Sovereignty Debate, Calls Itself a ‘Deeply Embedded’ Regional Partner
Fintech & Ecommerce

Mastercard Responds to Europe’s Payments Sovereignty Debate, Calls Itself a ‘Deeply Embedded’ Regional Partner

Mastercard has entered the growing debate over payment sovereignty in Europe, arguing that the global card network should be viewed as an integral part of the continent’s financial infrastructure rather than an external provider.

RBC Acquires Mortgage Tech Firm Pinch to Expand Digital Home Lending Capabilities
Fintech & Ecommerce

RBC Acquires Mortgage Tech Firm Pinch to Expand Digital Home Lending Capabilities

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has acquired Toronto-based mortgage technology provider Pinch Financial in a move aimed at strengthening the bank’s digital mortgage capabilities and simplifying the home-buying process for Canadian borrowers. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Bank of America and Zelle Test Real-Time Charitable Donations via Digital Payments
Fintech & Ecommerce

Bank of America and Zelle Test Real-Time Charitable Donations via Digital Payments

Bank of America and Zelle have launched a pilot initiative aimed at accelerating the delivery of charitable donations to nonprofit organizations by using instant payment technology. The initiative explores how real-time digital transfers can replace slower, traditional disbursement methods often used in philanthropy.

Elon Musk Confirms April Debut for X Money as Social Platform Pushes Into Financial Services
Fintech & Ecommerce

Elon Musk Confirms April Debut for X Money as Social Platform Pushes Into Financial Services

Elon Musk has officially announced that X Money, the long‑anticipated payments and digital wallet service built into the social media platform X, is set to begin early public access in April 2026, marking a major milestone in his effort to transform the app formerly known as Twitter into an all‑in‑one financial and social ecosystem.

Crypto Industry Digest: Ripple Eyes Australian Expansion, WhiteBIT Enters Ghana Sandbox, Bitget Reports Reserve Growth
Blockchain & Crypto

Crypto Industry Digest: Ripple Eyes Australian Expansion, WhiteBIT Enters Ghana Sandbox, Bitget Reports Reserve Growth

Several developments across the digital asset sector this week highlight the industry’s continued push toward regulatory engagement, geographic expansion, and infrastructure development. Updates from Ripple, WhiteBIT, and Bitget included in this digest point to growing institutional activity and international crypto market exploration.

Bank of America Reports 30 Billion Digital Client Interactions in 2025 as AI and Mobile Usage Grow
Fintech & Ecommerce

Bank of America Reports 30 Billion Digital Client Interactions in 2025 as AI and Mobile Usage Grow

Bank of America says customer engagement with its digital banking tools reached record levels in 2025, with clients interacting with their finances approximately 30 billion times through digital logins, AI solutions and automated alerts, according to a company update. The figure represents a 14% increase compared with the previous year.

AI Finance Converges: Upstart Seeks Bank Charter as Santander Deploys Agentic Payments Across Latin America
Fintech & Ecommerce

AI Finance Converges: Upstart Seeks Bank Charter as Santander Deploys Agentic Payments Across Latin America

Two separate landmark moves from Santander and Upstart signal a new era of autonomous, AI-native finance infrastructure developed at all levels of fintech industry.

Revolut’s UK Banking Licence Signals London’s Growing Lead as Global Fintech Hub
Fintech & Ecommerce

Revolut’s UK Banking Licence Signals London’s Growing Lead as Global Fintech Hub

London’s position as a global financial technology powerhouse gained new momentum this week as fintech giant Revolut received full regulatory approval to operate as a bank in the United Kingdom. The development comes as new industry data indicate that London has overtaken both New York and San Francisco to become the world’s leading fintech hub, […]

Chikwama Pay and Paymentology Launch Africa’s First WhatsApp-Based Borderless Neo-Bank
Fintech & Ecommerce

Chikwama Pay and Paymentology Launch Africa’s First WhatsApp-Based Borderless Neo-Bank

Global issuer-processor Paymentology has announced a partnership with South Africa-headquartered fintech Chikwama Pay, a neobank that enables borderless banking across Africa by allowing customers to bank, borrow, insure, save, and transact directly through WhatsApp, without the need for a separate app.

Inflation Holds Steady but Economic Pressures Persist as Americans Question Real Income Growth
Finance & Economics

Inflation Holds Steady but Economic Pressures Persist as Americans Question Real Income Growth

Inflation in the United States has stabilized in recent months, but economists warn that the apparent calm may not last. While consumer prices are rising at a slower pace than during the inflation surge earlier in the decade, persistent cost pressures and slowing wage gains are leaving many households uncertain about their financial outlook.

BlackRock Commits $100M to Skilled Trades Training as Infrastructure Investment Strategy Expands
Finance & Economics

BlackRock Commits $100M to Skilled Trades Training as Infrastructure Investment Strategy Expands

Global asset manager BlackRock has pledged $100 million to fund training for skilled trade workers, a move that aligns with the firm’s expanding focus on large-scale infrastructure investments. The funding, part of the company’s “Future Builders” initiative, will support workforce development programs in occupations such as electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, and ironworking through partnerships with […]

Worldline and ABN AMRO Renew Long-Term Payment Partnership in the Netherlands
Fintech & Ecommerce

Worldline and ABN AMRO Renew Long-Term Payment Partnership in the Netherlands

European payment processor Worldline has extended its multi-decade contract with Dutch banking giant ABN AMRO, reinforcing the partner’s role at the heart of the Netherlands’ digital payment infrastructure.