Core Insights - FinWise Bancorp has entered into a strategic program agreement with fintech company Albert to provide customers with short-term lines of credit, enhancing financial accessibility and transparency [1][2][3] Company Overview - FinWise Bancorp is the parent company of FinWise Bank, focusing on banking and payments solutions for fintech brands, leveraging a scalable API-driven infrastructure [4] - Albert is a financial technology company that offers a suite of financial management tools, including personal financial assistance, checking and savings accounts, loans, and investment accounts [4] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to combine FinWise's banking capabilities with Albert's financial technology to deliver innovative financial products that benefit consumers [3] - Both companies share a vision of transforming the banking experience and improving financial decision-making for consumers [3] Strategic Goals - The collaboration is expected to enhance Albert's growth opportunities by providing regulatory expertise and a multi-product platform that includes lending, deposits, and payments [3][4] - FinWise's existing Strategic Program Lending business will support the partnership by addressing challenges in funding diversification and capital efficiency for fintech brands [4]

Core Insights - Block has opened a new office in Dublin, Ireland, to expand its European presence in the fintech sector [6] - The Dublin office will feature a product demo lab to showcase Block's offerings to potential customers [6] - The strategic advantages of Ireland were cited as a reason for choosing this location, although specific details were not provided [4] Company Overview - Block, headquartered in Oakland, California, also has offices in London and offers products like Square and Afterpay [4] - The CEO of Block's Square International emphasized the goal of fostering dialogue on financial innovation and ensuring the ecosystem serves all stakeholders [6] Industry Context - Dublin is recognized as a hub for fintech activity in Europe, hosting major payment companies such as Adyen and Stripe, along with multinational corporations like Microsoft and Mastercard [3]

Core Insights - Embedded finance is expected to grow significantly as various players integrate financial services into mobile applications, enhancing user experience and accessibility [1][2] Group 1: Embedded Finance Trends - Embedded finance will become a common aspect of daily life, with financial activities integrated into social media and other frequently used applications [2] - This integration allows brands to engage customers in their financial activities directly within the platforms they use [2][3] Group 2: Fintech Banking Charters - Several fintech companies, including Affirm Holdings, Checkout.com, Fiserv, PayPal Holdings, and Stripe, have pursued banking charters recently, indicating a trend towards fintechs becoming banks [4] - The process of obtaining a banking charter is selective, and not all companies will receive approval, as it depends on specific circumstances and regulatory considerations [5] Group 3: Agentic Finance - There is an anticipated increase in agentic finance, which will provide consumers with guidance on personal finance, including account management and financial product recommendations [6]

Hong Kong will issue a batch of licenses to stablecoin providers in the first quarter of this year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan told World Economic Forum attendees in Davos on Tuesday. This will be the first issued since Hong Kong’s new stablecoin licensing regime took effect on August 1 last year. Hong Kong Kicks Off Stablecoin Licensing Regime With Eye on Global Hub Companies offering or marketing stablecoins to retail investors must obtain approval from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The process ...

Core Insights - Credicorp's digital banking subsidiary, Tenpo, has received operating authorization from Chile's financial regulator, making it the first licensed neobank in the country [1][2] - Tenpo is set to begin operations in the first half of 2026, offering core banking products such as checking accounts, consumer loans, and term deposits [2][5] - The licensing process for Tenpo began in January 2024, culminating in final authorization after several stages, including provisional authorization and legal existence [4] Company Overview - Credicorp is the leading financial services holding company in Peru, with operations in Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama, and the United States, and has a diversified business portfolio across various financial sectors [7] - Tenpo, founded in 2020, has rapidly grown its user base to over 2.5 million, focusing on a fully digital, technology-first model that emphasizes customer-centricity and financial inclusion [6]

London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - January 19, 2026) - FiNext Conference has officially announced Alona Shevtsova as one of the featured speakers at FiNext Conference Dubai 2026, one of the leading international events dedicated to financial innovation, fintech, and the future of the global financial industry.Alona ShevtsovaTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10281/280844_25048d9544bf9aad_001full.jpgThe conference, which will take place on ...

Core Viewpoint - The ongoing debate over stablecoin yields highlights the tension between innovation and the interests of traditional banking, with current regulations limiting stablecoin issuers from offering interest rates on their products, leading to the rise of third-party offerings that allow consumers to earn yields on their stablecoins [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Landscape - The banking lobby is pushing for stricter regulations on stablecoins, advocating for limitations on interest-earning capabilities, which could hinder the growth of the digital asset market [2]. - The current draft of the digital asset market structure bill prohibits yield on stablecoins held by consumers, allowing yield only through usage or third-party financial instruments, which is seen as a detrimental compromise [2]. Group 2: Historical Context - Historical examples show that when banks were restricted from offering competitive deposit rates, consumers turned to higher-yield alternatives like money market funds, which led to significant changes in banking regulations to foster competition [3][4]. - The concerns raised by the banking sector regarding deposit flight and reduced lending capacity were addressed through increased competition rather than stifling innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers [5]. Group 3: Innovation in Banking - The introduction of interest-earning accounts, such as Negotiable Order of Withdrawal accounts, transformed the competitive landscape of banking, demonstrating that prohibitions on interest can lead to demand-driven innovations rather than their suppression [6].

Core Insights - BitFuFu Inc. has been recognized as one of the TOP 100 Next Generation Companies of 2025 by the World Future Awards, highlighting its role in shaping the future through innovation and excellence [2][3] Company Recognition - The World Future Awards praised BitFuFu for its dedication to innovation and excellence, stating that the company embodies high standards in creativity and effectiveness [3] - Other notable awardees include companies like Waymo, Revolut, and UniPath, indicating BitFuFu's standing among leading innovators [3] Selection Criteria - The selection process for the awards involved a comprehensive research methodology that evaluated market data, company disclosures, press coverage, expert recommendations, and social media insights [4] - Strict criteria were applied to identify companies demonstrating exceptional innovation, reputation, and sustainability [4] Company Performance - As of October 31, 2025, BitFuFu managed a total hashrate of 30.5 EH/s, operated 555 MW of global power capacity, and held 1,953 BTC in treasury [6] - The company has reached 648,221 registered cloud mining users, reinforcing its position as the largest and most trusted cloud mining platform [6] Technological Innovations - BitFuFu is recognized for its pioneering contributions to Bitcoin mining, including making cloud mining accessible to both retail users and institutions [6] - The company utilizes advanced proprietary technology, such as the patented Aladdin system, which manages millions of miners with over 95% uptime [6] Future Commitments - The company aims to continue scaling its global digital infrastructure and advancing next-generation mining technologies while promoting sustainable energy practices [7] - BitFuFu is focused on linking Bitcoin mining with global capital markets through financial innovations, including the tokenization of hashrate as a real-world asset [10]

Group 1: Expansion of Cryptocurrency Services - Robinhood is expanding its cryptocurrency services by introducing Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) staking for US customers, starting with New York users on December 8, 2025 [1] - The company has seen platform volumes exceed $232 billion in the past year, indicating strong user engagement [2] - New perpetual futures contracts with up to 7x leverage for assets like XRP, Dogecoin (DOGE), and Sui (SUI) are being rolled out exclusively in Europe [2][3] Group 2: Market Entry and Growth Strategy - Robinhood is entering the Indonesian market through the acquisition of Buana Capital Sekuritas and PT Multi Digital Data, targeting 17 million crypto traders [4][5] - Indonesia has over 19 million capital market investors and 17 million crypto investors, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Robinhood [5] - The company aims to democratize finance in Indonesia by providing innovative services that have gained global trust [6]

Core Insights - A consortium of ten major European banks is set to launch a euro-backed stablecoin by mid-2026 to challenge U.S. dollar dominance in the global stablecoin market, which exceeds $300 billion [1][2] - The initiative is a response to European regulators' concerns over the reliance on dollar-denominated tokens, which constitute 99.58% of the market, while euro-pegged alternatives are minimal, with only $649 million in circulation [2] Group 1: Consortium Formation and Leadership - The consortium includes BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit, CaixaBank, Danske Bank, SEB, Raiffeisen Bank International, Banca Sella, KBC, and DekaBank, and operates through a newly established entity named Qivalis based in Amsterdam [1] - Qivalis has appointed Jan-Oliver Sell as CEO and Floris Lugt as CFO, with Sir Howard Davies as the chair of the Supervisory Board, all pending regulatory approval [3] Group 2: Regulatory and Strategic Implications - The consortium has applied for an electronic money institution license with the Dutch Central Bank, marking a significant step towards regulatory compliance and commercial launch [4] - The initiative aims to enhance monetary autonomy in the digital age and is open to additional banks joining to foster broader industry participation [5] Group 3: Systemic Risks and Market Concerns - The initiative follows warnings from European financial authorities regarding systemic risks associated with dollar-backed stablecoins, with concerns that rapid growth could impact European Central Bank monetary policy [6] - Dutch central bank governor Olaf Sleijpen highlighted that if U.S. stablecoins continue to grow at their current pace, they may become systemically relevant, creating uncertainty for central bank responses [7]