Visa has signed a definitive agreement to acquire behavioural fraud intelligence provider BioCatch for US$2.4 billion in cash, expanding its fraud prevention and security capabilities. The acquisition will bring BioCatch’s AI and machine learning-based technology into Visa’s existing cyber, fraud, risk and security solutions. Visa said the deal will help financial institutions better protect customers against threats including account takeovers, scams, money mule activity and application fraud. Monitoring user behaviour BioCatch uses behavioural intelligence to analyse thousands of application, behavioural, device and network signals, including keystrokes, touch gestures and device handling. Its technology helps distinguish legitimate users from fraudsters in…

Mastercard has completed its acquisition of digital asset infrastructure provider BVNK. Announced in March 2026 for up to US$1.8 billion, the transaction expands Mastercard’s efforts to connect fiat and digital currency payment rails through stablecoin infrastructure. The acquisition integrates BVNK’s infrastructure, which enables businesses to hold, move and convert value across fiat and on-chain payment systems. BVNK’s technology will support financial institutions, fintechs and enterprises exploring stablecoin and tokenised asset use cases, including cross-border B2B payments, payouts, settlement and treasury flows. “Digital currencies, particularly stablecoins, are increasingly addressing real-world needs in areas like cross-border B2B payments, remittances, payouts, settlement and…

Global payments provider MiFinity has launched a stablecoin payout service for merchants in partnership with stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK. PayAnyCoin provides businesses with an alternative cross-border settlement route that complements traditional banking rails. Mastercard entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BVNK for up to US$1.8 billion earlier this year, with BVNK providing the underlying blockchain infrastructure for the service. Merchants can access stablecoin payouts through their existing MiFinity API integration, allowing businesses to extend their global payout capabilities without changing existing operational workflows or payment infrastructure. PayAnyCoin operates alongside MiFinity’s existing bank and card payout services, supporting near-instant settlement…

Revolut has partnered with OpenAI to offer ChatGPT Go access as part of its banking subscription plans, giving retail customers up to 12 months of free access depending on their subscription tier. The partnership allows Revolut customers to use ChatGPT Go, which provides higher usage limits, file uploads, document analysis, image generation and memory features compared with the free version of ChatGPT. Revolut enables customers to use AI tools for everyday tasks such as researching purchases, planning trips, organising activities and managing work-related tasks. Under the new arrangement, Ultra customers receive 12 months of free ChatGPT Go access along with…

NatWest Group has appointed Triona O’Keeffe as its new Chief Data and Analytics Officer as the bank brings its data, AI and engineering capabilities closer together to accelerate the delivery of digital products and features. O’Keeffe will join NatWest in January 2027, reporting to Group Chief Information Officer Scott Marcar. She joins from the LSEG, where she currently serves as Chief Information Officer for Data and Analytics. Her previous experience includes Chief Information Officer roles at Direct Line Group and senior leadership positions at Deutsche Bank. In her new role, O’Keeffe will lead an expanded data and engineering function. NatWest…

Cognizant has launched its EMEA AI Unit to help companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa build, deploy and operate agentic AI solutions that deliver measurable business outcomes. The technology services company is targeting enterprises that are struggling to move AI initiatives beyond experimentation and into production. Operating under Cognizant’s Frontier Deployed Engineering model, the unit provides a platform-, model- and cloud-neutral approach to AI deployment. A vendor-neutral approach enables clients to select technologies that match their operational requirements without committing to a single ecosystem. Three service tiers support different stages of AI adoption: Foundation helps companies establish AI…

Trulioo has launched an AI agent designed to automate the discovery of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) for businesses. The UBO Discovery Agent aims to address gaps left by inconsistent corporate registries, allowing compliance teams to reconstruct cross-border ownership chains. Finding the true owners of a business remains a persistent challenge for companies. Registries across different countries vary in quality and often record shareholders and directors of record rather than the individuals who ultimately control a business. Ownership data can also become outdated due to filing delays. In addition, international ownership chains can break when they reach jurisdictions that do not…

In 2025, the number of fraudulent messages continued to rise, with North America and Europe experiencing the most significant increases. Phishing remained the most prevalent fraud category, while gambling and regulatory content also posed significant threats. SMS continued to be the dominant channel for fraudulent activity. These are among the key findings of a new report by Infobip, an IT and telecommunications company based in Croatia. The report analyzed billions of interactions globally, highlighting a year of record volumes of blocked fraudulent traffic, the rapid scaling of intelligent, AI-powered defenses, and the persistent role of mobile phones as a key channel for…

Ramp has launched stablecoin accounts and payments for its business customers. The new product integrates digital asset and fiat transactions into a single spend management platform, allowing businesses to use stablecoin rails for cross-border settlements alongside traditional payment methods. According to Ramp, approximately US$150 trillion to US$180 trillion moves through the SWIFT network annually. These transactions are typically subject to foreign exchange spreads and correspondent banking fees. Settlement can also take three to five business days. The company is positioning its stablecoin rails as an alternative that offers settlement in minutes and continuous availability outside standard banking hours. Managing stablecoins…

Boerse Stuttgart Digital has integrated Societe Generale-FORGE’s EUR CoinVertible into its trading and custody solutions. The move marks the first onboarding of a MiCAR-compliant euro stablecoin issued by a bank subsidiary into the company’s fully regulated ecosystem. The integration gives institutional clients access to a stable, secure euro settlement instrument. It also highlights a strategy to build digital finance infrastructure around euro-denominated, regulated digital assets issued by established financial institutions. “For decades, we have provided leading financial institutions across Europe with regulated market infrastructure,” said Dr. Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Group. Expanding a digital assets partnership The two…

BancaStato has joined Sygnum’s B2B banking network to launch regulated digital asset services for its clients. According to the company, the move makes BancaStato the first bank on Avaloq’s Software-as-a-Service environment to enable clients to buy, hold, and sell crypto via API with Sygnum directly from within its e-banking platforms. Through the API integration, BancaStato clients can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana. Account holders can execute market orders by USD value or asset quantity within their standard digital banking interface. The bank connected Sygnum’s platform straight to its Avaloq core banking system without deploying a separate order management system.…

LemFi is partnering with BVNK to shift its cross-border settlement onto regulated stablecoin rails, aiming to enable near-instant settlement and lower costs for international remittances. For the two million people using LemFi to send money from North America, Europe, and Australia to markets across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the underlying infrastructure has historically caused delays. International payments typically move through correspondent banking networks and SWIFT, which can take days to settle and add costs along the way. LemFi is addressing this by routing settlement over BVNK’s stablecoin infrastructure. The transfer happens entirely in the background. Users continue to send…

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…