Gelato, a trailblazing network dedicated to smart contract automation, has successfully secured $11 million in a Series A+ funding round. This significant achievement, spearheaded by Hack VC and supported by key investors, including Animoca Brands, IOSG Ventures, and Bloccelerate VC, pushes Gelato’s total funding to a notable $23 million. This new infusion of capital is poised to scale Gelato’s state-of-the-art
Network International, a key player in digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has entered a strategic partnership with Ant International, a globally renowned digital payment and fintech provider. This collaboration is marked by a Memorandum of Understanding and aims to offer innovative payment solutions, fostering digital transformation and financial inclusion in the MEA region. The partnership was
Swiss fintech company GenTwo has officially launched a new office in the UK, marking a significant expansion into one of the world’s premier financial markets. This strategic move was announced during an event at the Swiss Embassy in London on October 29. The UK, known for its robust financial services industry, with London’s status as a leading global financial hub,
Cross-border payments have long been a complex and expensive ordeal. Traditional banking systems, while trusted, often come with high fees, long processing times, and a lack of transparency. The advent of digital ledgers, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) promises a transformation in the way these international transactions are conducted. Combining these technologies creates a more seamless, secure, and cost-effective
Embedded finance has emerged as a significant growth driver for SaaS platforms, revealing a 25% increase since 2022. The embedded finance market offers a substantial $185 billion opportunity for SaaS platforms. The favorable interest rate environment, combined with increased bank revenues and the expansion of banking revenue pools, is contributing to this phenomenon. SaaS platforms can no longer ignore the
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to present the UK’s Budget amid pressing financial challenges. The country faces a significant financial deficit of £22 billion, coupled with a precarious economic landscape affected by past austerity measures, Brexit, COVID-19, and persisting low investment and productivity. Against this backdrop, Reeves must navigate the complex task of stimulating economic growth while avoiding further financial
BBVA Asset Management (AM) has taken a monumental step towards integrating blockchain technology into its asset management operations, launching an innovative initiative to enhance client services through advanced innovation. Central to this initiative is the pilot project featuring the BBVA Token Renta Fija Corto Plazo, a tokenized investment fund operational within the regulatory sandbox of the Spanish National Securities Market
In a groundbreaking move, Circle, a leading digital financial technology firm, has partnered with HKT, a major player in technology, media, and telecommunications, to spearhead blockchain-powered loyalty programs for merchants in Hong Kong. Both companies recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signaling their commitment to enhancing customer engagement by merging Circle’s blockchain expertise with HKT’s extensive merchant network. This
Earlier this week, Auquan, a leader in AI for financial services, announced they had secured an additional $4.5 million in seed funding, bringing their total seed investment to $8 million. This significant funding round was led by Peak XV, with solid backing from Neotribe Ventures, demonstrating industry confidence in Auquan’s innovative approach. The company employs AI agent architecture and retrieval
Thredd has recently launched a complimentary guide titled "Launching in America: A Guide to Issuing via BIN Sponsorship" to assist FinTechs and program managers in navigating the complexities of the U.S. payments market. The intricate regulatory framework and the diverse business landscape make it challenging for foreign entities to establish a foothold. The guide offers comprehensive insights into the American
Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) and Mastercard have formed a strategic alliance aimed at expanding access to mobile financial services across Sub-Saharan Africa, a region where a significant portion of the population remains unbanked. The collaboration aims to enable millions of Orange Money wallet holders to utilize digital payments through Mastercard’s globally recognized merchant network by 2025, thereby opening
MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR) has long been considered a proxy for investing in Bitcoin, largely due to its status as the largest corporate holder of the cryptocurrency. Investors who prefer owning shares as opposed to directly holding Bitcoin have flocked to the company, which has resulted in MicroStrategy’s stock enjoying a substantial premium over Bitcoin’s actual price. Recently, however, this
