Expensify has launched its corporate card in the UK and select European markets. The rollout gives businesses in the UK, Spain, Ireland, Poland, and the Netherlands access to the company’s integrated spend management platform for day-to-day corporate expenses. According to the company, the card connects directly to the Expensify platform to automate expense tracking, reducing the need for manual expense reporting and reconciliation processes. The system uses AI to categorise transactions and match receipts in real time. “The Expensify Card works quietly in the background to keep your business spend controlled, compliant, and ready for accounting,” said David Barrett, Founder…

Bank Frick has launched real-time euro payment services and Swiss franc receipt capabilities across the SEPA and SIC networks. The service is particularly suited for platforms, crypto exchanges and e-commerce providers that require rapid fiat settlement to manage liquidity. The new service is accessible through the bank’s online platform and API, allowing corporate clients to automate their payment flows. Companies can also receive instant payments using virtual IBANs to streamline the reconciliation of incoming funds. For euro transactions, the SEPA integration enables both the sending and receiving of funds across participating banks within the SEPA area. These transfers are executed…

Fintech funding is rebounding in Germany, reaching EUR 1.2 billion in H1 2026, according to data from Tech.eu’s Funding Explorer. The figure represents a significant increase from previous periods, marking a 196% increase from EUR 405 million in H2 2025, and a 9% increase year-over-year (YoY) from EUR 1.1 billion in H1 2025. In H1 2026, fintech was the second most funded startup category in Germany, representing 19% of all startup funding, debt and equity combined. This is a notable improvement from ranking fifth in H2 2025, and third in H1 2025, reflecting renewed interest in sector. Germany also performed…

OKX Europe has launched a one-way conversion feature allowing European users to deposit Tether (USDT) and convert it into USD Coin (USDC). The exchange introduced the tool as an option for holders seeking to move USDT holdings into a MiCA-compliant stablecoin following changes to stablecoin requirements under the European Union’s MiCA framework. Tether has not obtained authorisation to issue USDT under MiCA. As MiCA requirements for stablecoins take effect, many European platforms have restricted deposits, removed trading pairs, or converted customer balances into compliant alternatives. The OKX Europe feature allows customers to deposit USDT into its licensed venue and convert…

Last year, financial institutions in the German, Austrian, and Swiss (DACH) region prioritized the organizational design and institutionalization of their efforts in agentic artificial intelligence (AI). This year, their focus shifted to engaging in building foundations, negotiating works council approvals for employee-related changes, and selecting high-return-on-investment (ROI) use cases, according to a recent study conducted by the University of St Gallen and French consulting firm Wavestone. The study, conducted between October 2025 and May 2026, involved 30 semi-structured interviews with banks, insurers, and selected technology providers in the DACH region. The objective was to gain insights into the patterns, challenges,…

Euroclear has appointed Usman Ahmad as its Head of Digital Assets. In this newly created role, Ahmad will steer the group’s digital assets strategy as the post-trade services provider explores opportunities in tokenisation and digital settlement. Ahmad joins from institutional digital asset brokerage Zodia Markets, where he served as co-founding CEO. His background includes a key role at OSL, one of the early regulated digital asset market participants, as well as more than 17 years in capital markets technology leadership positions at HSBC and Merrill Lynch. “Euroclear plays a central role in financial markets, and I look forward to working…

Temenos has completed its acquisition of Swiss fintech additiv. The banking technology provider will retain the acquired company’s founder-led management team to run operations on a stand-alone basis. The deal, initially announced in early June 2026, was structured with consideration paid equally in cash and equity. The transaction integrates additiv’s AI-powered orchestration tools into the existing Temenos core banking platform. This integration is designed to help financial institutions connect customer interactions and data across their wealth management offerings. additiv builds technology for banks and wealth managers to launch and manage wealth propositions. The platform allows financial institutions to oversee investment…

FIS has joined Anthropic’s Project Glasswing initiative to use the Mythos 5 AI model as part of its defensive cybersecurity efforts. The financial technology firm operates systems that clear payments, move money, and run core banking for thousands of institutions worldwide. Project Glasswing is a controlled-access programme that provides organisations maintaining foundational software with Anthropic’s advanced AI models for defensive security work. FIS stated that protecting its software code is critical to the stability of global financial infrastructure. The deployment of Mythos 5 functions as an additional layer within the company’s existing security framework. FIS noted that this internal security…

BitPay has secured authorisation as a crypto-asset service provider from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The approval allows the firm to offer crypto payment acceptance, stablecoin-denominated payments, and cross-border payment solutions across the EU under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The license provides BitPay with a regulatory foothold in the EU, where MiCA aims to establish a harmonised framework for crypto-asset services. Securing the authorisation in the Netherlands allows BitPay to passport its authorised services across EU member states. The company stated the license supports access to crypto tools for spending, managing, and, through its partners,…

Swiss investors are overestimating the fees associated with exchange-traded funds (ETFs), a misconception that’s preventing them from benefiting from this investment product’s advantages, including lower costs, accessibility, and diversification, according to a new study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in collaboration with stock market app Finanzen.ch. The study, which surveyed 3,460 adults in Switzerland in 2025, found that 58% of non-ETF investors and 28% of ETF investors believe that an ETF incurs annual fees exceeding 1%. However, Swiss ETFs typically cost only 0.3% on average. This finding suggests an important misconception of ETFs, and indicates that…

Deutsche Bank has partnered with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to launch a €1 billion trade finance platform. The initiative targets frontier and emerging markets, where tightening risk appetites have constrained access to trade finance. The agreement marks what MIGA describes as its first programmatic trade finance portfolio guarantee platform with a global commercial bank. Under the framework, MIGA will provide Deutsche Bank with guarantees that protect against the risk of non-payment by state-owned banks. These institutions often serve as primary conduits for importing essential goods and supporting underserved segments in developing economies. Beyond expanding general access to trade…

Switzerland has emerged as global leader in deep tech, a sector that has thrived on the back of surging funding, increased participation from international backers, and the emergence of industry leaders from the country’s world-renowned science, engineering, and technology universities, according to a recent report by Deep Tech Nation Switzerland Foundation and Dealroom.co. Deep tech companies develop groundbreaking technologies based on significant scientific or engineering advances. Unlike typical software startups, these companies aim to solve complex technical challenges in fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), quantum computing, biotechnology, semiconductors, and advanced materials. In Switzerland, deep tech now…

Crypto.com has secured a US$400 million investment from global market maker Citadel Securities. The transaction values the company at US$20 billion and marks its first institutional funding round in a decade of operations. Proceeds from the investment are expected to support Crypto.com’s expansion into new asset classes, including tokenised securities and derivatives. Crypto.com said the funding will help bridge digital and traditional markets while supporting a 24/7 financial ecosystem. The deal comes as traditional financial institutions increasingly engage with blockchain infrastructure and digital assets to improve capital market efficiency. “The size of the opportunity in front of us is staggering,…

Thredd has joined the Visa Agentic Ready programme to help European card issuers support transactions initiated by AI agents. The issuer processing platform aims to provide the underlying infrastructure for agentic commerce, where AI agents assist consumers by carrying out authorised purchasing actions on their behalf. Consumer payments platform Zilch will be among the first issuers to test the capability. Using the Thredd platform, Zilch cardholders will be able to instruct an AI agent to find a product and, after confirmation, complete the purchase on their behalf. When a user approves an AI agent’s recommendation, they authenticate the decision using…

FC Basel 1893 has appointed Swiss Bankers as its official payment partner The Swiss football club and the payment solutions provider will co-develop new payment offerings designed to enhance the fan experience on matchdays and beyond. Swiss Bankers, a company that has developed payment solutions in Switzerland for over 50 years, will bring its expertise to the partnership and develop new offers together with the club. The partners intend to introduce solutions covering stadium experiences, fan shop purchases, and everyday payment use cases. FC Basel and Swiss Bankers will announce specific details of the new payment offerings at a later…

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the country’s financial regulator, has released guidance for financial institutions to proactively address the risks posed by quantum computing, emphasizing the importance of early engagement in risk mitigation. Though cryptographically relevant quantum computers do not yet exist, technological progress are gaining momentum, and such computers can be expected to emerge in the coming years, FINMA says. Given the complexity and time required for the migration to quantum-safe encryption technologies, the interdependencies between service providers and financial institutions, and the already very real risk of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, institutions must take action…

The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected 36 payment service providers to participate in its digital euro pilot. The 12-month trial, starting in the second half of 2027, will test person-to-person and person-to-business transactions using a beta version of the digital euro without legal tender status. Following a call for expressions of interest in March 2026, the Eurosystem reviewed more than 50 applications. The final list includes both banks and non-bank providers, chosen to create a representative testing environment across different business models and sizes. Participants will take on specific operational functions during the trial. Distributing providers will give Eurosystem…

Adnovum has launched a suite of quantum resilience services. The offering helps financial institutions and government bodies assess their existing cryptographic infrastructure and identify migration priorities before sufficiently powerful quantum computers can compromise current cryptographic methods. The service targets organisations that rely on cryptography to protect sensitive data, digital identities, and business-critical systems. Organisations must identify where legacy cryptography is currently deployed across applications, infrastructure, and technology environments to transition to quantum-safe security. To address this, the service helps clients create a Crypto Asset Inventory that maps cryptographic dependencies across applications, certificates, protocols, and infrastructure components to guide migration planning.…

Kraken has launched a debit card for eligible customers in the UK and the European Economic Area. The company aims to connect users’ cryptocurrency and fiat balances directly to everyday spending by converting funds in near real-time at the point of purchase. The product allows users to spend from more than 600 supported digital and fiat currencies anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Kraken states that the card offers up to 2% cashback on purchases, which are paid out weekly in Bitcoin, euros or pounds. The company does not charge its own transaction or ATM fees for card usage. Customers can choose…

Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (Suisse) (BIL Suisse) has renewed its core banking and technology partnership with Avaloq. The boutique private bank will continue using the Avaloq platform via a software-as-a-service model to support automation across its banking operations and integrate third-party fintech services. Under the extended agreement, Avaloq will manage the bank’s core system, infrastructure, and regulatory updates. This setup is designed to help BIL Suisse scale efficiently while maintaining stable and compliant operations. The two companies will focus their joint innovation efforts on Avaloq’s open architecture. BIL Suisse plans to use this framework to securely integrate third-party services. The…