Ripple has announced its agreement to acquire Rail, a stablecoin-focused global payments platform, for US$200 million. The deal is expected to enhance Ripple’s position in digital asset payments infrastructure by integrating Rail’s capabilities into its existing offerings. Ripple Payments currently provides access to a wide-reaching payout network, digital asset liquidity, and over 60 licences that support compliant payment operations. The addition of Rail is set to strengthen this infrastructure with features such as virtual accounts and automated back-office systems aimed at streamlining operational workflows. Monica Long, President of Ripple, said, “Stablecoins are quickly becoming a cornerstone of modern finance, and…

Corpay has announced a new collaboration with a subsidiary of Circle aimed at expanding access to stablecoins across international payment systems. The partnership will see the integration of USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Circle, into Corpay’s cross-border pay-in and pay-out infrastructure. The initiative is intended to offer companies access to blockchain technology’s continuous settlement and programmability features. As part of the agreement, Corpay plans to incorporate Circle Mint and associated APIs into its platform. This will allow clients to access and manage USDC balances directly. Customer accounts on Corpay will also be equipped with digital wallets powered by Circle,…

NCR Atleos has announced an expanded partnership with FCTI to deploy thousands of additional ATMs across the US. The collaboration will also see Atleos deliver terminal driving services to support FCTI’s operations nationwide. FCTI, a subsidiary of Japan-based Seven Bank, is one of the largest ATM owner-operators in the US, managing services for retail chains including 7-Eleven and Speedway. The firm holds over US$8 billion in assets and acts as the exclusive ATM operator and technology provider at these locations. This development builds on a previous agreement between the two companies, which enabled FCTI to serve as an ATM acquirer…

Saphyre, a New Jersey-based fintech has raised US$70 million in growth equity funding from FTV Capital. The investment will support the firm’s expansion across global markets, further product development, and deeper integration within the financial services ecosystem. Founded in 2017, Saphyre provides a proprietary platform that digitises and organises pre-trade data to streamline onboarding processes for buy-side and sell-side institutions. Its solution is designed to reduce redundancies in post-trade operations and enable counterparties to reach ready-to-trade status within 24 hours, addressing long-standing inefficiencies in capital markets workflows. “This investment marks a major milestone in Saphyre’s mission to revolutionise financial services…

Grasshopper, a New York-based client-first, full-service digital bank, has closed a US$46.6 million funding round. The round was led by Patriot Financial Partners LP, with additional participation from Glendon Capital Management. The investment supported Grasshopper Bank’s merger with Auto Club Trust, FSB in April 2025 and will contribute to the continued development of its digital banking platform. The bank plans to enhance its range of solutions for businesses while expanding into consumer banking. Its current offerings include depository accounts, lending products, and financial tools designed to support business growth. Following strong performance in 2024, Grasshopper sustained its momentum in the…

Bullish, a digital asset exchange operator and owner of crypto media outlet CoinDesk, is aiming to raise up to US$629.3 million through an initial public offering in the United States. According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the Cayman Islands-headquartered firm intends to offer 20.3 million shares priced between US$28 and US$31 each. As reported by Bloomberg, this would value the company at approximately US$4.2 billion at the top end of the price range, based on the outstanding shares disclosed. Asset managers BlackRock and ARK Investment Management have each expressed interest in purchasing up to US$200…

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the formation of a task force on AI, aimed at advancing the agency’s use of AI to support innovation and improve operational efficiency. Valerie Szczepanik, newly appointed as the SEC’s Chief AI Officer, will lead the initiative. The AI Task Force is intended to accelerate the responsible integration of AI across the agency, centralising efforts and promoting collaboration across divisions. Its focus will include managing the AI lifecycle, addressing barriers to adoption, identifying high-impact applications, and maintaining appropriate governance. The group will also support innovation within individual SEC divisions and offices.…

Riga-based biometric technology firm Handwave has secured US$4.2 million in Seed funding to roll out its palm-based identity and payment solution across Europe and the United States. The round was led by regional investor Practica Capital, with participation from FirstPick, Outlast Fund, and Inovo.vc. The funds will support the development of the platform, obtain necessary regulatory certifications, and initiate retail pilot programmes. Founded in 2021, Handwave enables users to pay, verify their age, access loyalty programmes, and check in using only their palm, without the need for cards, mobile phones, apps, or facial recognition technology. The startup’s solution uses proprietary…

Apple is reportedly developing a rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT through its “Answers” team, while also advancing work on the iPhone 17 Pro. The tech company has seen several AI researchers depart for Meta Platforms and is now focusing efforts on strengthening its artificial intelligence capabilities. The Answers team is working on a chatbot-style search experience, and recent sightings of the iPhone 17 Pro suggest the device is approaching its launch. According to AInvest, Apple has intensified its AI efforts under CEO Tim Cook, who described the technology as “as transformational as the internet, smartphones, cloud computing, and apps” during a…

Daloopa, a New York-based AI-powered fundamental data platform used by equity investment and research teams, has announced a US$13 million strategic investment to support increasing demand for high-quality data used in large language models (LLMs) and AI agents in financial services. The funding round included participation from both existing and new investors, including Pavilion Capital. As financial institutions advance their use of AI, concerns have grown over the limitations of publicly sourced web data, which often includes inaccuracies, hallucinations, and lacks traceability to original sources. Daloopa aims to address these challenges. The company has introduced its Model Context Protocol (MCP),…

QI Tech, a São Paulo-based financial infrastructure fintech, has raised US$63 million in a Series B funding round led by General Atlantic. According to FinSMEs, the funding will be used to advance the development of new client solutions, reinforce the company’s position in Brazil’s digital banking sector, and explore potential strategic acquisitions. Founded in 2018, QI Tech provides technology infrastructure for financial services through an API platform that supports institutions, fintech firms, and enterprises in deploying and scaling financial products. Its offerings span core banking, payments, lending, investments, and insurance. QI Tech previously raised US$200 million in a Series B…

Euronet, a Kansas-based provider of payment processing and cross-border transaction services, and CoreCard Corporation, a Georgia-based provider of credit technology solutions and processing services for the financial technology and services sector, have entered into a definitive agreement for Euronet to acquire CoreCard in a stock-for-stock merger. The transaction values CoreCard at approximately US$248 million, or US$30 per share of its common stock. The acquisition supports Euronet’s strategic objective of building a more diversified and scalable revenue base, underpinned by modern platforms aligned with the demands of digital financial services globally. CoreCard’s technology has been adopted by established firms in finance…

Interactive Brokers Group, an American multinational brokerage firm, is considering issuing a stablecoin for its customers, joining a growing number of major financial institutions looking to capitalise on the digital token boom as the US relaxes crypto regulations. The deliberations come as the global financial system undergoes a rare transformation, driven by the rise of blockchain-based assets such as stablecoins. These tokens, typically pegged to fiat currencies, are being used to facilitate borderless transactions without engaging with traditional banking systems. In an interview with Reuters, Interactive Brokers’ billionaire founder, Thomas Peterffy, revealed that the company is exploring the possibility of…

Boku, a global provider of localised payment solutions, has received a Payment Institution license from the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB). The license authorises Boku to operate as both a Payment Initiator and E-money Issuer, paving the way for the company to engage in Brazil’s Open Finance ecosystem as a Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP). This approval is a necessary step toward enabling Pix payments without redirection and sets the groundwork for the introduction of Pix Automático to merchants by early 2026. The development is expected to support millions of Brazilians, particularly those without access to credit cards, by facilitating…

New York-based finance automation platform, Ramp, just 45 days after closing its previous US$200 million round. The latest capital will be used to accelerate the company’s efforts to develop autonomous financial software powered by AI. Led by co-founder and chief executive Eric Glyman, Ramp is advancing a model of finance where AI agents handle routine tasks such as transaction review, policy compliance, and fraud detection. Companies including Notion, Webflow, and Quora are among those already using Ramp’s tools to reduce manual oversight and improve operational efficiency. Ramp’s approach is centred on transitioning finance teams from sequential workflows to parallel systems,…

JPMorganChase and Coinbase have announced a partnership aimed at broadening access and improving security for customers engaging in digital financial services. The collaboration will roll out a series of features intended to increase convenience for users of both platforms. In the initial stage, the partnership will introduce a direct connection between Chase bank accounts and Coinbase wallets using JPMorgan’s secure API. This will allow Chase customers to link their accounts to Coinbase more seamlessly, supporting secure transactions with the level of privacy and protection they are familiar with. Additionally, Chase customers will gain the option to transfer their Ultimate Rewards…

The President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets released a report that outlines a comprehensive framework to establish the United States as a global leader in digital financial technology. The report follows through on President Trump’s January commitment to make America the “crypto capital of the world”, as outlined in Executive Order 14178, Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology. The Working Group, comprising officials across the Federal government, was tasked with recommending regulatory and legislative measures to support the policies introduced in the Executive Order. The report sets out a roadmap for strengthening the country’s position in the digital…

UK fintech giant Revolut is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring a US bank as a way to accelerate its entry into the American banking sector. According to the Financial Times, this move could enable the fintech to secure a US banking license more quickly than applying independently. The potential acquisition would allow Revolut to expand its operations in the US by targeting a financial institution that already holds a national banking license. The US market presents opportunities for customer growth and deposit acquisition at a time when many British fintech firms are experiencing slower user expansion. While Revolut has…

Intuit, the California-based fintech platform behind TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks and Mailchimp, has introduced a range of product updates in Intuit QuickBooks aimed at creating a more intelligent and automated accounting experience for businesses and accountants across international markets. The updates are part of Intuit’s broader efforts to develop its platform into a unified business solution, using AI to streamline routine processes and manage complex workflows. By integrating key features into one system, the company intends to reduce reliance on disconnected tools and simplify how businesses operate and grow. Among the updates is QuickBooks Payments, now available in beta. The…

Florida-based fintech firm FIS has announced a partnership with a subsidiary of Circle, aimed at enabling financial institutions to process payments in USDC, a regulated stablecoin fully backed by US dollars. This collaboration follows the recent enactment of stablecoin legislation in the US, which sets the stage for broader integration of payment stablecoins within the traditional financial system. It forms part of FIS’ wider strategy to support the development and adoption of digital assets and currencies. Through this agreement, FIS and Circle will facilitate the use of USDC for both domestic and cross-border transactions by financial institutions in the US.…