A fascinating experiment is taking place in the US right now: 160 people are going to be given $12,000 in crypto over the next five months — with no strings attached. The initiative is a collaboration between Coinbase and the nonprofit GiveDirectly, which allows users to send money to the world’s poorest — with $95.5 million distributed to more than 140,000 people in the past year. All 160 of the individuals involved in this trial are 18 to 30 years old, and based in New York. They’re getting a lump sum ...

Mobile banking, free cheque books, and more: Zero-balance accounts, technically called Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts, may soon sport more features. These accounts, designed with limited services for mass consumers, are mandatory for every bank. On Wednesday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed sweeping changes to help these accounts join India’s digital transformation. Additional services proposed for BSBD accounts include mobile and internet banking, free cheque books and unlimited free d ...

Core Viewpoint - YY Group has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Obita to integrate stablecoin payment infrastructure into its global gig workforce platform, enhancing cross-border payment capabilities and financial inclusion for gig workers [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership and Integration - The MOU will allow YY Group to utilize Obita's stablecoin payment infrastructure for scalable and compliant receivables, payables, and treasury management [1][2] - Obita's infrastructure aims to simplify cross-border settlements while ensuring compliance and security, which is essential for enterprises [2][3] Group 2: Benefits for YY Group - The integration will streamline YY Group's cross-border capital flows, improving efficiency and margins as the company scales [2] - The technology will provide faster, lower-cost payouts for international students and gig workers, allowing them to hold savings in fiat-backed stablecoins to reduce local currency volatility [2][3] Group 3: Strategic Goals - The simplified cross-border settlement supports YY Group's international expansion strategy in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other growth markets [2] - YY Group aims to enhance financial inclusion for gig workers globally, particularly in underserved regions, through this collaboration [2][3] Group 4: Company Overview - YY Group is a technology-enabled platform providing flexible workforce solutions and integrated facility management services across Asia and beyond [4][5] - The company operates in various sectors, including hospitality, logistics, retail, and healthcare, and is committed to service excellence and long-term value creation [4][5]

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is among the 10 Best Money Making Stocks to Invest In. On September 23, the company announced that it had signed an MoU with the Central Bank of Syria to partner on developing a national payments ecosystem in the country. Mastercard Incorporated (MA) and Central Bank of Syria to Collaborate on Developing National Payments Ecosystem Under the strategic alliance, the two organizations will work together to explore ways to expand financial services for millions of Syrians. ...

Core Insights - The global fintech industry is transitioning from rapid expansion to sustainable growth, characterized by increased collaboration and broader market reach [21][22][30] - Customer growth rate from 2022-2023 is 37%, down from 55% in 2020-2021, indicating market normalization post-pandemic [24][62] - Revenue growth remains strong at 40% and profit growth at 39%, reflecting the industry's shift from user acquisition to value enhancement [24][72][79] Market Performance - The fintech industry shows robust performance metrics, with average customer growth at 37% from 2022-2023, a decline from previous years [24][62] - Revenue growth rates are highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (46%), followed by Asia-Pacific (44%) and the Middle East and North Africa (43%) [71] - Digital banking and savings lead revenue growth at 67%, while digital capital raising and insurtech report the lowest growth rates at 18% and 31% respectively [72][79] Financial Inclusion - Financial inclusion is central to fintech's value proposition, with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) making up 57% of customer bases [26] - Low-income populations account for 47% of customers, and women represent 41%, particularly in emerging markets [26][30] Partnerships and Regulatory Environment - 84% of fintechs partner with traditional financial institutions, primarily through API integrations (52%) and technology collaborations (41%) [27] - 62% of fintechs find the regulatory environment adequate for their operations, with 35% citing clarity in regulatory approaches [28] AI Adoption - 80% of fintechs are implementing AI across various business functions, with significant improvements in customer experience (83%) and cost reduction (75%) reported [29] - Despite the benefits, 87% of fintechs express concerns over high deployment and maintenance costs associated with AI [29][30] Future Directions - The industry is focusing on three main areas for development: AI integration, regional interoperability, and open banking [30] - Emerging markets prioritize the need for integrated anti-money laundering platforms and localized digital identity systems, reflecting urgent demands for foundational financial infrastructure [30]

Core Insights - Mastercard and the Central Bank of Syria have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a national payments ecosystem in Syria, aiming to enhance digital payment capabilities and expand access to financial services for millions [1][2] - The partnership will focus on integrating banks and financial institutions in Syria with global best practices, ensuring knowledge transfer through training and technical exchanges to build local expertise in digital payments [2][4] Group 1 - The MoU establishes a collaborative framework for sharing expertise to strengthen Syria's payments infrastructure and advance financial inclusion [3][4] - Mastercard's West Arabia division president emphasized the importance of partnerships, innovation, and local engagement in building inclusive financial ecosystems [3] - The agreement outlines initial cooperation focusing on expertise exchange and exploring global best practices in digital payments [4] Group 2 - Follow-up steps will include studying future collaboration opportunities such as training programs, technical workshops, and joint initiatives to promote financial inclusion [5] - Earlier this month, Mastercard partnered with HyperPay to launch commercial card products in Saudi Arabia, indicating a broader strategy in the MENA region [5]

Walmart-backed Indian payments firm PhonePe has secured the final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to function as an online payment aggregator. The approval enables PhonePe to extend its services, with a strategic focus on small and medium-sized enterprises throughout India, reported The Times of India. PhonePe merchant business chief business officer Yuvraj Singh Shekhawat was quoted by the publication as saying: “With this authorisation, PhonePe is well-positioned to accelerate financial in ...

Core Insights - Stablecoins have become essential in the crypto economy, facilitating $264.5 trillion in transactions since 2019 across 18 billion transactions, providing a stable means to store value and transact without volatility [1] Group 1: Market Overview - The total market cap of stablecoins has surpassed $280 billion, driven by a surge in companies launching stablecoins following the clarity provided by the GENIUS Act passed in July 2025 [2] - Major companies like MetaMask, Stripe, and Circle have launched new stablecoins and payment-focused chains, indicating a trend of acquisitions and investments in stablecoin infrastructure [3] Group 2: Reasons for Increased Stablecoin Adoption - Financial inclusion is a key driver, as over 1.3 billion people remain unbanked, and stablecoins can provide 24/7 access to money online, especially in regions with unstable currencies [4] - Currency diversity is important; having multiple stablecoins can reduce dependency on a single currency, such as the U.S. dollar, thereby mitigating risks associated with U.S. monetary policy [5] - Risk mitigation is another factor, as the current stablecoin market is concentrated among a few major players. More stablecoins would decrease concentration risk, providing alternatives for users in case of issues with any single issuer [6] Group 3: Future Implications - Stablecoins are reshaping global finance by providing instant, borderless access to money, aligning incentives with users rather than banks, and fostering competition in the financial ecosystem [7]

Company Overview - HALA is a leading fintech company in Saudi Arabia, focused on providing embedded financial services to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) [11] - The company has rapidly expanded its offerings, which include business accounts, card issuance, payment and transfer services, and point-of-sale solutions [11] - HALA currently serves over 142,000 businesses and processes more than $8 billion in annual transactions [6][11] Investment Details - HALA has successfully raised $157 million in a Series B funding round, marking it as one of the largest fintech Series B funding rounds in the Middle East [1][2] - The funding round was led by The Rise Fund and Sanabil Investments, with participation from various other venture capital firms [2] - The capital raised will be used to strengthen HALA's market position, enhance its service offerings, and expand its regional presence [2] Growth and Vision - The investment reflects HALA's year-on-year growth and the scalability of its operating model, which aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to boost the contribution of SMEs to GDP [4] - HALA's co-founders expressed their commitment to innovation and excellence in serving small businesses, emphasizing the potential impact on the MSME landscape [7][10] - The company aims to empower micro and small businesses by providing a broad range of payment solutions, which are essential for the region's economy [10]

big props to @circle for keeping the focus on inclusion!making finance accessible to everyone is what crypto’s all about.Circle (@circle):Global stablecoin regulation. USDC payments. Financial inclusion.A timely conversation between @ddisparte & @Arjun_Vir_Singh on the future of digital finance. https://t.co/wp2eNiPMaq ...