Core Viewpoint - Chaince Digital Holdings Inc. has successfully completed a private placement with an institutional investor, raising approximately US$6.14 million to support its transition into AI-driven industrial technology and advanced manufacturing initiatives [1][4]. Funding Details - The investor acquired 1,000,000 ordinary shares at a price of US$6.14 per share, reflecting the closing price on December 5, 2025, resulting in total gross proceeds of US$6.14 million before fees and expenses [2]. Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the offering will be utilized for general corporate and working capital purposes, specifically to support the development of an AI and semiconductor-focused gigafactory, expansion of AI/HPC infrastructure platforms, and capital markets activities through Chaince Securities, LLC [4][8]. Company Overview - Chaince Digital Holdings Inc. focuses on digital finance and technology, emphasizing tokenization, on-chain innovation, and regulated brokerage services. The company aims to connect traditional financial markets with the digital asset economy through compliant and scalable infrastructure [6].

Core Viewpoint - IQSTEL Inc. has announced its first-ever dividend distribution, which will be paid in common shares to shareholders of record as of December 15, 2025 [1][2]. Distribution Details - The dividend distribution will amount to $500,000, calculated based on the closing price of $6.62 on August 29, 2025, resulting in 75,529 shares to be distributed on or about December 30, 2025 [3]. - The distribution ratio is set at 0.0173, meaning shareholders can determine their allocation by multiplying their share count by this ratio, with all allocations rounded down to the nearest whole share [4]. Company Performance and Strategy - CEO Leandro Iglesias highlighted significant achievements, including uplisting to Nasdaq, reaching a $400 million revenue run rate ahead of schedule, and achieving a $2.7 million EBITDA run rate [5]. - Fintech now constitutes 20% of the company's revenue, and the addition of Cybersecurity has enhanced its high-margin portfolio [5]. - The company aims for a $15 million EBITDA run rate in 2026 and a $1 billion revenue run rate by 2027 [6]. Financial Results - In the third quarter, IQSTEL reported revenues of $102.8 million, a 90% increase year over year, exceeding estimates [7]. - Gross revenue reached $118.5 million, driven by strong subsidiary synergies, while adjusted EBITDA totaled $0.68 million, primarily from Telecom and supported by Fintech contributions [7]. Stock Performance - IQST stock closed at $3.93, reflecting a decrease of 3.44% on the previous Friday [8].

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. The size of buy now, pay later loans have increased as more U.S. consumers rely on them, according to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau study released last week. The average dollar value of a BNPL loan grew to $848 in 2023 from $745 in 2022, a 14% increase, the agency's research found. The bureau unveiled the study — which looked at buy now, pay later loans i ...

Core Insights - UK-based financial technology company Revolut is planning to establish a private markets team to enhance its wealth management services [1] - The private markets sector is growing, with major global exchanges looking into new products linked to the $16 trillion privately-held assets market [2] Group 1: Company Developments - Revolut is seeking asset managers, junior investment bankers, or private capital advisers to create private market fund investment options for its users [1] - The company currently serves nearly 70 million users, providing access to US and European equity trading through its app [3] - In November of the previous year, Revolut expanded its offerings to include British blue-chip stocks after acquiring a UK trading license [3] Group 2: Wealth Management Services - The introduction of a Robo-Advisor service in Singapore earlier this year aims to facilitate automated investing, simplifying the investment process for customers [3] - The Robo-Advisor allows users to invest in a diversified portfolio without extensive research or active management, catering to those with limited time or trading experience [4] Group 3: Industry Context - The private markets are becoming increasingly significant, but there are concerns regarding rising valuations, limited regulatory oversight, and broader economic factors that may increase risks in certain segments [2]

E-commerce Industry - MercadoLibre operates the largest online marketplace in Latin America, projected to account for 30% of online retail sales in the region next year, up from 28.5% last year [1] - Amazon runs the largest online marketplace in North America and Western Europe, leveraging generative AI tools for customer service, inventory placement, and last-mile delivery [5][6] - Wall Street estimates MercadoLibre's earnings will increase at 32% annually over the next three years, with a median target price of $2,842 per share, implying 41% upside from the current share price of $2,015 [10] Cloud Computing - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest public cloud provider, recently adding new platform services like Bedrock for generative AI application development and custom AI chips for cost-effective training and inference workloads [3] - Wall Street estimates Pure Storage's adjusted earnings will grow at 26% annually through fiscal 2027, with a median target price of $100 per share, implying 41% upside from the current share price of $71 [18] Advertising Industry - Amazon is the third-largest ad tech company and the largest retail advertiser, developing generative AI tools for brands to create multimedia content and campaigns [4][6] - MercadoLibre has achieved impressive scale in advertising, being the largest retail advertiser in Latin America [8] Financial Technology - Circle Internet Group mints the USDC stablecoin, which is the largest regulatory-compliant stablecoin in the U.S. and Europe, preferred by financial institutions [11] - Circle expects its USDC volume to increase at 40% annually, with Wall Street estimating revenue growth of 32% annually through 2027, making its current valuation of 8.2 times sales attractive [13][14] Market Outlook - Wall Street anticipates the S&P 500 will increase to 7,968 in the next year, implying about 17% upside from its current level of 6,827 [7] - Analysts expect between 32% and 43% upside in selected stocks, including MercadoLibre and Circle Internet Group [7]

12月13日，蚂蚁数科宣布开源旗下数据智能体关键技术Agentar SQL全套论文、代码、模型和使用指 南。该智能体技术可让非专业人员通过日常语言进行商业数据查询和分析，为企业数智化提供更精准可 用的智能数据分析基座。 据悉，在某头部城商行试运营期间，蚂蚁数科Agentar SQL多个工具的平均查询准确率超92%，较传统 查询方案提升超3倍。 蚂蚁数科首期开源实时文本转化结构化查询语言(Text-to-SQL)框架，为开发者提供一套开箱即用的数据 查询方案，提升文本与数据库查询交互效率。2026年，蚂蚁数科将陆续开源数据库理解与挖掘、行业知 识挖掘、实时多轮交互技术框架，覆盖意图理解、业务理解到数据理解的全链路数据能力。 ...

Core Insights - The revival of structured products in Asia is linked to a surge in equities driven by artificial intelligence, with a notable shift from US stocks to Chinese mega-caps like Alibaba and Tencent [1][21] - Issuance of structured products tied to Hong Kong and Singapore equities has surged 80% this year, exceeding $200 billion, marking a significant recovery in the market [21] - More than 60% of global sales of structured products in the first seven months of 2025 originated from Asia, primarily from China and Hong Kong [4][21] Structured Products Overview - Structured products generally offer lower maximum payouts than stocks but attract investors with regular fixed payments that often exceed bond yields [5][6] - Accumulators and fixed-coupon notes are particularly popular, with accumulators requiring investors to buy stocks at preset levels, which can lead to higher costs during market downturns [9][10][21] - Fixed-coupon notes linked to major Chinese companies, such as Alibaba, offer annualized coupons ranging from 10% to 20%, which is higher than those tracking indices [12][21] Market Dynamics - Alibaba shares have increased nearly 90% this year, contributing to a 26% rise in the Hang Seng Tech Index, indicating a strong recovery in the Asian market [13][21] - The proportion of equity-linked notes tracking Hong Kong-listed equities has risen to 30%-40% in 2025, up from about 20% in 2024, reflecting a shift in investor focus [13][21] - Wealthy investors are increasingly using leverage to amplify their bets, which can also magnify potential losses [16][21] Risk Management - The concentration of structured products on a limited number of stocks poses a risk, as highlighted by BNP Paribas, which is navigating this challenge amid a backdrop of market gains [17][21] - Historical events, such as the Lehman Brothers collapse and the Covid outbreak, serve as reminders of the risks associated with structured products [8][21]

Core Insights - Fintech startup Mesa has decided to shut down its Homeowners Card program, which allowed cardholders to earn points for mortgage payments and other home-related expenses [1][2] - The shutdown is described as a business decision, with all accounts closed and credit cards deactivated as of December 12 [1] - Mesa launched the Homeowners Card in November 2024, backed by $9.2 million in funding, and aimed to provide rewards for home-related spending [2] Company Overview - Mesa offered two main products: mortgage loans with 1% cash back and a credit card that provided rewards for various home expenses [2] - The CEO emphasized that the card was designed to reward spending on essential home-related categories rather than traditional travel and dining [3] Market Context - The shutdown of Mesa's card has been noted by travel deal websites, indicating that cardholders experienced transaction declines prior to the closure [4] - Bilt, a competitor, plans to expand its rewards program to include points for mortgage payments, highlighting a potential gap in the market following Mesa's exit [3] Customer Impact - The only remaining option for Mesa cardholders to redeem their points is through a statement credit at a rate of 0.6% [5]

Core Insights - StepStone Group has initiated a new position in Chime Financial, acquiring 150,000 shares valued at approximately $3 million, representing 1.4% of the fund's reportable U.S. equity assets [2][3][7] - Chime Financial's shares are currently priced at $26.19, which is about 3% below their IPO price of $27 per share [4] - Chime Financial operates as a mobile-first fintech platform, providing fee-free banking services primarily to U.S. consumers earning under $100,000 per year [9][10] Financial Performance - Chime Financial reported a 29% year-over-year revenue increase to $544 million in the third quarter, with active members rising 21% to 9.1 million [12] - The company's gross margin held at 87%, and adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $29 million, indicating improving profitability metrics [12] - Management has raised full-year guidance and authorized a $200 million share repurchase program, reflecting confidence in the company's financial outlook [12] Investment Implications - StepStone's investment in Chime Financial is seen as a sign of growing confidence in the company's operating model, especially shortly after its IPO [11] - The position in Chime is relatively small compared to the fund's largest holdings, indicating a measured approach rather than high conviction [13] - Chime's appeal lies in its growing base of higher-income users, improving unit economics, and increasing monetization through new products [13]

Core Insights - Cathie Wood's ARK Investment Management has invested over $30 million in Robinhood shares during a period of stock price decline, viewing it as a buying opportunity [1][4] - Despite a recent 11% drop in value over the past month and a 14% decline in the past week, Robinhood's year-to-date performance shows a remarkable 217% gain [2] - The recent sluggishness in Robinhood's stock is attributed to decreased trading volumes and assets under custody, indicating reduced user activity [2] Company Performance - Robinhood reported record Q3 sales of $1.27 billion, a 100% increase year-over-year, with a net income of $556 million, marking its best quarter ever [6] - The earnings snapshot for the last four quarters shows consistent growth, with Q3 2025 EPS at $0.61 and revenue at $1.27 billion, both exceeding expectations [7] Investment Strategy - Wood's investment in Robinhood aligns with her broader strategy focused on digital infrastructure, software, and automation, which are seen as key areas for future growth [4] - The recent purchases of Robinhood shares reflect Wood's long-term conviction in the company's potential as a major disruptor in the finance industry, despite short-term market fluctuations [3][4]