21X, a Germany-based digital asset exchange operator, and Zühlke, a Schlieren-based technology and innovation consultancy, have announced a strategic partnership to support the adoption of tokenised securities trading among institutional clients. The partnership combines 21X’s DLT-based trading infrastructure with Zühlke’s technical expertise in financial services and digital assets. Zühlke will act as an official implementation partner, providing consulting and integration services to support client onboarding and system optimisation for institutions such as banks, brokers, custodians, and stablecoin providers. The collaboration aims to connect clients and partners from both firms’ networks, including asset managers, issuers, market makers, and stablecoin issuers. Zühlke…

Stablecoins hold considerable promise for Switzerland, with the potential to improve the payment system, strengthen the digital economy, and reinforce Switzerland’s position as a global innovation hub, according to a new report by the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA). However, their introduction entrails risks, particularly to financial stability and the effectiveness of monetary policy, which must be carefully managed. The new report, released on April 30, analyzes the potential implications of issuing a regulated stablecoin in Switzerland, exploring the opportunities and challenges posed by the technology. A regulated stablecoin for Switzerland According to the report, a regulated and trusted stablecoin could…

Gartner has outlined six emerging trends that will significantly influence cloud adoption over the next four years. These include cloud dissatisfaction, AI and machine learning (AI/ML), multicloud strategies, sustainability, digital sovereignty, and industry-specific solutions. “These trends are accelerating the shift in how cloud is transforming from a technology enabler to a business disruptor and necessity for most organisations,” said Joe Rogus, Director, Advisory at Gartner. “Over the next few years, cloud will continue to unlock new business models, competitive advantages and ways of achieving business missions.” According to Gartner, these developments will fundamentally change how organisations work—enabling more digitally driven…

RetailBook, a London-based platform that provides retail investors access to primary capital market transactions on the same terms as institutional investors, has announced a £4.5 million funding round led by Augmentum Fintech, a prominent investor in the European fintech sector. In February, RetailBook expanded its operations by bringing on board the former PrimaryBid Capital Markets Team, known for their experience in retail inclusion. The combined team has now worked on more than 400 equity and debt transactions across the UK and Europe. Augmentum joins existing investors Peel Hunt, Jefferies, Rothschild & Co and Hargreaves Lansdown in supporting RetailBook’s plans to…

BitGo has received a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) for its subsidiary, BitGo Europe GmbH. This approval allows the company to offer digital asset services across the European Union. The license enables BitGo to support a broader range of clients in the EU, including both crypto-native businesses and traditional financial institutions such as banks and investment managers, as they engage with the digital asset sector. Harald Patt, Managing Director of BitGo Europe GmbH, said: “We are proud to receive our MiCA license from BaFin, establishing our foothold in the European Union. This…

Brazil’s Nubank has emerged as the world’s most valuable neobank, boasting a valuation of US$58 billion, according to new data released by Multiples, a UK-based valuation data platform. This remarkable figure reflects strong investor confidence in Nubank’s growth potential and its perceived ability to dominate the digital banking sector. In addition to its market value, Nubank also leads in financial performance, generating in 2024 US$11.5 billion in revenue and US$2.2 billion in pre-tax profit. These numbers suggest that Nubank has successfully scaled its operations while maintaining strong financial performance. It demonstrates operational efficiency, effective cost management, and a well-diversified business…

Revolut has selected Fourthline as its strategic identity verification partner following a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process. Revolut sought a partner capable of supporting its expanding operations while maintaining high standards in compliance and customer experience. Initially, Fourthline will support Revolut’s customer onboarding processes across the EU and the UK, with the possibility of expanding into additional markets in the future. The decision to partner with Fourthline was based on the firm’s ability to meet Revolut’s operational requirements, including scalability, regulatory compliance, and integration efficiency. “Our exponential growth across multiple markets demands a compliance partner that can keep pace…

Adoption of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) is increasing among fund managers, impacting functions such as portfolio management, fund administration, and marketing. In the realm of marketing, genAI is proving a game changer, enhancing processes and experiences through predictive analytics, automation and data-driven insights. These innovations are leading to more effective messaging, stronger investor engagement, and improved risk controls, according to new research by SG Analytics, a global research and data solutions provider. The research, based on a survey of 80 fund management firms, revealed that a growing number of fund management firms are embracing AI, leveraging the technology in a…

General Atlantic, a US-based private equity company and UBS have announced a strategic partnership focused on private credit opportunities. This collaboration aims to provide clients and borrowers with broader access to direct lending and other credit products. The partnership formalises and extends an existing working relationship, combining UBS’s advisory and investment banking origination capabilities with General Atlantic’s global network and expertise as a private credit investor. Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic, said: “We are excited to bring together General Atlantic’s deep expertise in private credit investing with UBS’s strengths in origination, global client relationships, and advisory services.…

UPDATE (May 12): According to InfoVeritas, it is not true that the Treasury fines individuals for withdrawing €3,000 from the bank. What actually happens is that financial institutions are required to report cash withdrawals exceeding that amount to the relevant authorities, as outlined in Article 4 of Order EHA/98/2010 of January 25. That said, most bank ATMs have daily withdrawal limits well below €3,000, which vary by institution. For instance, Ibercaja sets a daily ATM withdrawal limit of €1,000, while Banco Santander’s limit is €600. As a result, anyone wishing to withdraw €3,000 or more must do so directly at…

The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation have announced Verto, a UK-based financial technology company, as the winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Fintech. The announcement was made at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. The US$2 million innovation award recognises initiatives aimed at improving access to capital and financial services for small businesses in emerging and frontier markets. Verto received the US$1 million Grand Prize for its business-to-business cross-border payments platform. The platform facilitates payments for businesses in emerging markets by removing intermediary fees, supporting 49 currencies, and enabling faster transaction settlements. The Fintech prize is the…

Trotz anfänglicher Zurückhaltung: Immer mehr Schweizer Retailbanken setzen auf Künstliche Intelligenz, um ihre Prozesse zu optimieren und neue Dienstleistungen anzubieten. Eine aktuelle Umfrage der Hochschule Luzern zeigt, dass der Einsatz von KI zwar noch am Anfang steht, die Potenziale jedoch erkannt wurden, zum Beispiel in den Bereichen Datenanalyse und Risikomanagement. Forschende der Hochschule Luzern (HSLU) haben 45 Retailbanken unter anderem zu ihrem Umgang mit Künstlicher Intelligenz (KI) befragt. Aus der Umfrage geht hervor, dass knapp 70 Prozent der befragten Banken KI aktiv einsetzen. Ihr Einsatz konzentriert sich derzeit vor allem auf interne Prozesse in Bereichen wie Zahlungsverkehr, Dokumentenverarbeitung oder Datenanalyse…

London-based fintech lending platform Juice has secured £25 million in funding to bolster its mission of making finance more accessible to digital SME founders. The funding, which includes backing from family offices Aern Capital and Falco Capital and a credit facility from Paragon Bank, will support Juice’s efforts to provide tailored growth capital solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. The UK is currently facing a £22 billion funding gap for SMEs, with more than half of businesses turning away from traditional high street banks to meet their lending needs. Juice’s latest funding round aims to address this gap, offering an…

XTransfer, a B2B cross-border trade payment platform based in China, has been granted an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the central bank of the Netherlands. With this approval, XTransfer will begin offering localised services in the Netherlands, aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in trade. These services will include local accounts, cross-border settlements, and foreign exchange solutions. The Netherlands is currently China’s second largest trading partner within the European Union and is home to the Port of Rotterdam, a major hub for international trade and logistics. XTransfer’s entry into the Dutch market is expected…

Berlin-based digital bank N26 has announced its entry into the European telecommunications sector with the launch of N26 SIM, a new mobile service designed to offer flexible and competitively priced mobile plans. The move marks the latest expansion for the fintech company, known for its app-based banking services, as it diversifies its offerings beyond traditional financial products. N26 SIM operates using Vodafone Germany’s 5G network and leverages eSIM technology to provide a fully digital experience. Customers can activate their mobile plans directly through the N26 app without the need for paperwork, physical SIM cards, or visits to mobile network stores.…

Citi and SDX, a Zurich-based digital securities exchange, have announced a collaboration at the Point Zero Forum in Switzerland aimed at addressing challenges within traditional private markets for global issuers and investors. Citi will be responsible for tokenising, settling, and safekeeping assets on SDX’s digital Central Securities Depositary (CSD) platform. The collaboration will enable Citi to bring late-stage pre-IPO equities to institutional and eligible investors via the SDX platform. The solution, which is expected to be operational by the third quarter of 2025, will aim to make shares in high-growth, venture-backed private companies more accessible to investors. For issuers, it…

Every day, over USD $12 trillion moves through global financial systems, but much of that money is monitored by compliance infrastructure built for a pre-digital era. While fintech innovation has surged, compliance tools haven’t kept pace, leaving institutions vulnerable, slow, and burdened by outdated technology.  This is the problem Baran Ozkan, Co-Founder and CEO of Flagright, encountered firsthand. As he searched for a modern AML solution at a previous startup, what he found instead was an industry mired in clunky systems, unreliable APIs, and vendor promises that rarely matched reality.  That frustration laid the foundation for Flagright: a real-time, AI-native…

BVNK, a London-based global infrastructure platform for stablecoins, has received an investment from Visa. This follows BVNK’s US$50 million Series B funding round in December 2024, led by Haun Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures, DRW Venture Capital, Avenir, and Tiger Global. Commenting on the investment, Rubail Birwadker, Head of Growth Products and Partnerships at Visa, said: “We’re proud to support BVNK as they help accelerate global adoption of stablecoin payments. Stablecoins are fast becoming a part of global payment flows, and Visa invests in new technologies and builders like BVNK, staying at the forefront of what’s next…

Duna, a startup founded by two former Stripe employees and based in Germany and the Netherlands, has secured a €10.7 million seed round to develop tools that streamline identity verification for businesses. The all-equity round was led by global venture capital firm Index Ventures, with additional support from German investor Puzzle Ventures. As reported by Sifted, the round also saw participation from a number of prominent business angels, including Alexandre Prot (cofounder of Qonto), Jean-Charles Samuelian (cofounder of Alan), Eléonore Crespo (cofounder of Pigment), and Guillaume Princen (an executive at Anthropic). Launched in 2023, Duna was founded by Duco Van…

European neobank, bunq, has launched a new crypto trading feature in partnership with Kraken. The service, bunq Crypto, is now available in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Belgium, with plans to roll out across the European Economic Area, the US, and the UK, pending regulatory approvals. The neobank’s latest feature allows users to invest in over 300 cryptocurrencies directly via the bunq app. The partnership with Kraken provides backend infrastructure and asset safeguarding, while bunq leverages its status as a licensed bank to offer a regulated environment for crypto trading. “Our users across the world have long waited…