The $400B Fintech Gold Rush: Crypto Payment Rails

Cryptocurrencies

Institutions and Big Banks Dominating Crypto Narratives, While Cypherpunk Ethos Retreats

The cypherpunk ethos is retreating from the limelight, as institutions and centralized players take center stage, driving new narratives.

The $400 Billion Fintech Gold Rush: Crypto Payment Rails

The financial plumbing powering our daily transactions is being rebuilt, and the infrastructure companies operating behind the scenes are reaping the benefits.

AI

SoftBank's U.S. PayPay IPO: A Strategic Move to Capitalize on Fintech and AI Market Premiums

SoftBank Group's decision to take its Japanese digital payments platform, PayPay, public in the U.S. by late 2025 is a masterstroke in monetizing Japan's AI-driven fintech innovation. This move, underpinned by a $2 billion+ fundraising target and a valuation range of $10–12 billion, reflects a calculated strategy to leverage the U.S. market's premium for high-growth tech assets.

Blockchain

How Traditional Finance Invests in Blockchain

The shift is undeniable: traditional finance is making a decisive move into the digital asset space. As blockchain unlocks cheaper, faster, and more accessible services, and opens up doors to new finance use cases, institutional blockchain adoption and demand is quickly ramping up.

Digital Banking

The UK Fintech Investment Dips to $7.2B in First Half

Britain's fintech sector pulled in $7.2 billion during the first six months of 2025, marking a modest 5% drop from the $7.6 billion raised in the same period last year.

FinTech Wales Welcomes Mastercard as Its Newest Partner

FinTech Wales, the independent membership association and champion of the fintech and financial services industry in Wales, has today welcomed Mastercard, the global leader in payments and technology, as its newest Partner.

South African Fintech SAVA Launches First Fully-Functional Spend Management Platform

The company is positioning itself to lead the digital transformation of financial management for South African enterprises.

7 fintech startups racing to expand digital banking in Mexico

Mexico City-based Stori, Plata and Klar, which have all raised significant funding within the last year, offer complete credit card and digital banking services to their customers in a quest to challenge traditional banks. And as part of their strategy, they’re focused on consumers historically underserved by these institutions.

Acquisition

Finsus acquires Anticipa for SME cash advances in Mexico

The purchase builds on Finsus' previous acquisitions of Pulpi and Distrito Pyme last year.

Western Union expands US retail presence with $500m Intermex acquisition

The all-cash deal, expected to be finalised by mid-2026, values Intermex at $16 per share.

Europe

Opinion: Europe can regulate its way to a better fintech future

Op-ed by Wouter Moolenaar, global head of compliance and privacy at The Jifiti Group