Author: Fintechnews Switzerland

The Zurich-based private bank Maerki Baumann is to establish a Technology Advisory Board headed up by Marc P. Bernegger from 1 January 2025. The new expert body, which will also include PD Dr Alexander Ilic and Sandra Tobler, will focus on strategic topics related to technology. This step has been guided by the family-owned company’s belief that disruptive technologies and new companies such as fintech firms will have a major impact on the financial and banking industries going forwards. The Technology Advisory Board will actively support the private bank’s Board of Directors and Executive Board in the further development, digitisation and…

Die siebte Ausgabe der Studie „Digitalisierung & Kundenerfahrung im Schweizer Retailbanking 2024” von Colombus Consulting zeigt, dass die Retail-Banken auch 2024 weiter in digitale Medien investieren. Die mobilen Apps werden immer aktueller und beliebter, die sozialen Netzwerke generieren mehr Engagement, und die Budgets für digitales Marketing steigen um 23 % auf über 58 Mio. Schweizer Franken pro Jahr. Das Web steht dem in nichts nach, da Tools zur Optimierung der Kundenerfahrung oder Chatbots eingesetzt werden, aber die Aufmerksamkeit für digitale Verantwortung oder ethische KI noch gering ist. Ein seit zwei Jahren unverändertes Podium Die gleichen Banken bilden auch 2024 das…

BX Digital announced the planned appointment of Lidia Kurt as its new Chief Executive Officer. BX Digital is a sister company of the Swiss exchange BX Swiss and part of the Boerse Stuttgart Group. BX Digital aims to create a transparent, accessible and liquid market for digital assets based on blockchain technology in Switzerland. “With the appointment of Lidia Kurt, we intend to continue on our dynamic path,” says Lucas Bruggeman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BX Digital. “We have the ambition of becoming the first licensed DLT trading system in Switzerland. The application has been submitted to…

Inflexion, an European mid-market private equity firm, announced that it has agreed an investment in Finanzen.net Group, a digital broker and market leading financial information portal in the DACH region, alongside the founders. According to a Reuters report the company value could be around 400 millions Euro. The investment is being made by Inflexion’s Buyout Fund VI and is the second investment in the DACH region after Tierarzt Plus Partner since Inflexion opened its office in Frankfurt earlier this year. The Group consists of three divisions: high-growth low-cost digital investment platform, also known as a neobroker, called Zero, a capital…

In 2023, Switzerland’s marketplace lending witnessed a significant contraction, with the volume of new debt capital issued on online platforms falling by 10.8% year-over-year (YoY) to approximately CHF 18.6 billion, a joint report by the Lucerne School of Business and the Swiss Marketplace Lending Association (SMLA) says. The Marketplace Lending Report Switzerland 2024, released in October, provides a comprehensive analysis of online debt financing trends for corporations, public entities, and private individuals in Switzerland. It focuses on online platforms directly connecting lenders and borrowers, offering an overview of the current state and emerging trends within the Swiss marketplace lending landscape.…

The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies has undergone significant transformation in 2024, with the European Union (EU) leading the charge through landmark initiatives such as the Markets in Cryptoassets (MiCA) regulation, but also guidelines on stablecoins as well as updates to the so-called “travel rule” for crypto transfers, a new report by Elliptic, a British blockchain analytics firm, says. These efforts represent some of the most significant crypto regulatory advancements of the year, highlighting the EU’s pioneering role on the global stage, and setting the stage for regulatory trends in other regions. MiCA: a groundbreaking regulation The report, released in September…

Sifted, a tech media brand backed by the Financial Times (FT), has released its annual ranking of Germany’s fastest-growing startups, showcasing the resilience and dynamism of the country’s tech ecosystem. The Sifted 50: Germany Leaderboard, released in September, ranks the 50 startups with the strongest revenue growth in the country over the past three financial years. These companies have achieved remarkable revenue growth despite double-digit inflation and sharply rising interest rates. This year’s average two-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at a remarkable 162.08%, with the top three companies surpassing the 500% CAGR mark. Geographically, Berlin leads as…

Die Bedeutung von Kryptowährungen hat in den letzten Jahren stark zugenommen. In der Schweiz investieren 11 Prozent der Bevölkerung in Krypto-Anlagen. Die meisten Personen tun dies aus Interesse und Neugier mit verhältnismässig kleinen Beträgen – und weniger aus Rendite- oder Diversifikationsgründen. Mit der zunehmenden Verbreitung von Kryptowährungen bieten immer mehr Banken den Handel mit digitalen Anlagen über das E-Banking und Mobile Banking an. In einer Studie hat die Hochschule Luzern (HSLU) im Auftrag von PostFinance untersucht, wer in Krypto-Anlagen investiert und aus welchen Gründen dies geschieht. Es ist die erste umfassende und repräsentative Studie zum Thema Krypto-Anlagen von Privatpersonen in…

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) has partnered with IDVerse to strengthen its digital identity verification services. LSEG aims to combat the growing threat of digital deception, including synthetic media and deepfakes. This collaboration will integrate IDVerse’s advanced technology, including its fully automated “Zero Bias AI,” which leverages regenerative AI, into LSEG’s existing spectrum of risk solutions. This AI-powered tool aims to provide accurate identity verification while minimising potential bias based on race, age, and gender. The partnership will focus on improving the speed and reliability of document and biometric checks, addressing issues of accessibility and fraud prevention. This is…

The digital wallet industry has transformed into a dynamic and complex landscape over the past years, evolving from simple payment tools into sophisticated, multifunctional digital platforms that are playing an essential role in the broader financial landscape. These digital wallets now offer a wide array of services beyond basic payments, incorporating features such as account management, financial insights, and access to a variety of financial products, but also lifestyle services like travel, restaurants and events. A new report produced by ti&m, a Swiss IT consulting company, in partnership with the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ), the Swiss Bankers Association…

Klarpay announced that it will officially rebrand to Bivial AG in the coming weeks. The new name reflects the company’s evolving vision and core values while incorporating a personal touch—the initials of its founders. While Klarpay has been recognised for its specialisation in cross-border corporate payments, Bivial AG is seeking to expand its offerings to provide a more comprehensive suite of financial services. The name “Bivial” symbolises the importance of two-way transaction flows—a fundamental principle in payments and business. This rebranding underscores the company’s commitment to delivering seamless, secure, and complete financial solutions for businesses worldwide. As part of its…

The market for embedded finance is experiencing significant growth, with the total addressable market (TAM) reaching US$185 billion in 2024, marking a 25% increase from US$150 billion in 2022. According a new report by Dutch payment firm Adyen and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), this rise is being fueled by the favorable interest rate environment and an expansion of banking revenue pools. The report, released on October 28, explores the state of embedded finance for software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms in 2024, drawing on quantitative and qualitative research involving approximately 30 leading platforms and about 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across North…

Swiss Digital Asset trading company Wyden (former AlgoTrader) announced the closing of its CHF 14.5 million Series B round. It was financed by Truffle Capital, a Paris based global fintech investment firm, with participation from new investors PostFinance, SBI-Sygnum-Azimut Digital Asset Opportunity Fund, and FiveT Fintech, as well as existing investor C3 Venture Capital. Strategic expansion driven by global digital asset regulation Wyden will leverage these funds for strategic growth, targeting new markets and further intensifying its sell-side expansion for banks, brokers and exchanges. With a clear focus on regulatory compliance, Wyden plans to extend its reach into markets where…

The Deutsche Bundesbank has become a member of Project Guardian, a global initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) that explores the use of asset tokenisation in financial markets. As the German member of the Eurosystem and the monetary authority for Germany from 1957 to 1998, the Bundesbank brings its expertise to the project. Launched in May 2022, Project Guardian brings together policymakers and key financial industry players to improve market liquidity and efficiency through the innovative use of technology. The Bundesbank will participate in various pilot projects testing specific use cases for asset tokenisation, exploring its feasibility…

Cross-border payments often lead to delayed settlements.  As a result, this creates a fragmented view of liquidity positions for companies. The aim is to increase transparency and security with blockchain-based payments via UBS Digital Cash which should in turn facilitate timely payment processing. In addition, companies should be able to manage intraday-liquidity and adjust liquidity buffers on their accounts more easily in the future, thanks to greater visibility of their total cash positions. Andy Kollegger, Head UBS Institutional & Multinational Banking, says: ”UBS Digital Cash going forward aims to enable our clients to make cross-border payments in a much more…

Digitale Arbeitsplatztools verändern die Art und Weise, wie Fintech-Experten (Financial Technology) zusammenarbeiten und ihre Produktivität steigern. In einer zunehmend vernetzten und schnelllebigen Branche sind diese Tools wichtig, um wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. Durch die Implementierung der richtigen Softwarelösungen können Fintech-Unternehmen ihre Kommunikation verbessern, Projekte effizienter verwalten und die Flexibilität ihrer Mitarbeiter erhöhen. Vorteile digitaler Arbeitsplatz-Tools Digitale Arbeitsplatz-Tools ermöglichen eine nahtlose Verbindung zwischen Teammitgliedern, unabhängig von ihrem Standort. Dies fördert eine effiziente Zusammenarbeit und erleichtert den Informationsaustausch. Mitarbeiter können von überall aus auf benötigte Ressourcen zugreifen und ihre Aufgaben erledigen. Diese Flexibilität trägt zu einer besseren Work-Life-Balance bei und steigert die Mitarbeiterzufriedenheit.…

Jumio, a provider of AI-powered identity verification solutions, has partnered with LatticeFlow AI. The partnership aims to improve the safety, fairness, and reliability of Jumio’s AI models, aligning with its goals for compliance under emerging regulations. This collaboration will enable Jumio to proactively address potential issues, validate its AI models, enhance performance, and strengthen fraud prevention capabilities, particularly in preparation for the upcoming EU AI Act. By integrating LatticeFlow’s advanced computer vision technology, Jumio aims to strengthen its platform and ensure compliance with the Act’s strict regulations. “We are honored to partner with Jumio to help advance the performance and…

Kaspersky Global Research has uncovered a malicious global campaign in which attackers used Telegram to deliver Trojan spyware, potentially targeting individuals and businesses in the fintech and trading industries. The malware is designed to steal sensitive data, such as passwords, and take control of users’ devices for espionage purposes. The campaign is believed to be linked to DeathStalker, an infamous hack-for-hire APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) actor offering specialized hacking and financial intelligence services. In the recent wave of attacks observed by Kaspersky, threat actors attempted to infect victims with DarkMe malware – a remote access Trojan (RAT), designed to steal…

UBS Asset Management has launched its first tokenised investment fund, the “UBS USD Money Market Investment Fund Token” (uMINT), built on Ethereum’s blockchain. This token offers investors access to institutional-grade cash management solutions backed by high-quality money market instruments within a conservative, risk-managed framework. The launch is part of UBS’ strategy to use blockchain for better fund issuance and distribution. UBS recently piloted a tokenised Variable Capital Company (VCC) fund in October 2023 as part of its involvement in the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Project Guardian. The firm has also issued CNH 200 million in digital structured notes in June 2023 and completed…

Der Online-Vergleichsdienst moneyland.ch hat die Kosten von digitalen Vorsorgelösungen der Säule 3a untersucht. Das Ergebnis: Vorsorge-Apps sind meist deutlich günstiger als klassische Vorsorgefonds. Vorsorge-Apps sind in der Schweiz seit einigen Jahren etabliert und überzeugen immer mehr Vorsorgenehmerinnen und Vorsorgenehmer. Für die Säule 3a und die 2. Säule (Freizügigkeit) werden laufend neue digitale Vorsorgelösungen lanciert, während andere bereits wieder verschwunden sind. Ähnlich wie bei den digitalen Vermögensverwaltern setzen sich die Kosten der Vorsorge-Apps im Wesentlichen aus zwei Komponenten zusammen: den Pauschalgebühren und den Produktkosten. Bei einigen Apps sind die Produktkosten in den Pauschalgebühren enthalten. Bei anderen Apps ist es genau umgekehrt und es werden nur…