ClearBank has signed a strategic framework agreement with a subsidiary of Circle to collaborate on initiatives across the European market. The partnership will initially focus on expanding access to Circle’s fully reserved, MiCA-compliant stablecoins, USDC and EURC, through Circle Mint in Europe. This positions ClearBank as an infrastructure provider for financial institutions and fintechs seeking compliant, multi-currency stablecoin solutions for payments, treasury, and liquidity operations. ClearBank also plans to become one of the first European banks to join the Circle Payments Network (CPN), which enables near-instant global value transfers with blockchain transparency. By integrating with Circle’s infrastructure, including Circle Mint…

Ferrari is entering the crypto market with plans to launch a new digital token aimed at tech-savvy younger investors. The token will allow the brand’s most affluent clients to bid for a Ferrari 499P, the endurance car that claimed three consecutive Le Mans titles, according to Reuters. The initiative, developed with Italian fintech firm Conio, is designed for members of Ferrari’s Hyperclub, an exclusive group of around 100 clients with a passion for endurance racing, who will be able to trade the ‘Token Ferrari 499P’ and use it to participate in the auction. The token is expected to debut alongside…

Nine fintech founders, executives and investors have been named among Europe’s top 100 women in technology, recognized for their impact in digital finance, drive, and ingenuity. Sifted’s inaugural 100 Women in Tech in Europe 2025 spotlights the 100 women making a real impact and shaping the future of the European tech ecosystem. These women were selected among over 2,500 nominations, shortlisted by a panel of tech figures representing organizations such as Wise, Starling, Slush, and HV Capital. Of the 100 women that made it into the 2025 100 Women in Tech in Europe list, nine are involved in the fintech and…

Mid- and late-stage fintech deals have reached a four-year high in 2025, accounting for 22% of all fintech transactions in the first three quarters of the year, underscoring a continued shift toward fewer, larger investments in more established fintech companies, according to a new report by CB Insights. In contrast, early-stage deals have declined to 66% of total activity, down six points from 2024. The growing share of mid- and late-stage deals is pushing average deal sizes higher. As of 2025 year-to-date (YTD), the average fintech deal size stood at US$17 million, up 37% YoY from US$12.4 million in 2024,…

FalconX, an institutional digital asset prime brokerage, has agreed to acquire 21Shares, the provider of the world’s largest range of cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds and products (ETFs/ETPs). The transaction marks a significant step in FalconX’s strategy to bridge listed markets and digital assets, expanding its presence across the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The acquisition combines 21Shares’ expertise in asset management product development and distribution with FalconX’s institutional-grade infrastructure, structuring capabilities, and risk management platform. Together, the firms aim to develop investment products that address growing institutional and retail demand for regulated digital asset exposure. Founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and…

Relai, a Swiss Bitcoin startup, has marked a significant milestone by obtaining authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. The license, granted by France’s Financial Markets Authority (AMF), positions Relai among the first Bitcoin-focused firms to receive such approval in Europe. The company, which raised a Series A funding round last year and has surpassed 500,000 app downloads, plans to extend its services to users across the European Union following completion of the passporting notification process. Previously focused on Switzerland and Italy, Relai aims to broaden access to Bitcoin across the EU…

Revolut has secured a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), enabling it to offer regulated cryptocurrency services across all 30 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Revolut, which serves more than 65 million customers worldwide, said the authorisation reaffirms its compliance-first approach to digital assets, CoinDesk reported. The company plans to launch “Crypto 2.0,” an upgraded platform featuring over 280 tokens, zero-fee staking with rewards of up to 22% annual yield, and direct 1:1 stablecoin-to-USD conversions without spread. Revolut’s Cyprus base will act as a hub for its EEA crypto operations as…

Sifted, a Financial Times-backed media outlet focusing on the European startup ecosystem, has released its 2025 selection of the 250 fastest-growing startups in Europe, ranking these companies based on their revenue growth over the past three financial years. These 250 startups, which span industries including fintech, business-to-business (B2B) software-as-a-service (SaaS) and climate, generated a combined EUR 9.3 billion in revenues over the past three years at an average two-year revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 226%. Together, they employ nearly 25,000 people, making them significant engines of economic growth. This year, Sifted 250 reveals a more mature tech ecosystem…

Central banks have long been early adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), using these technologies to generate insights for statistics, research, and policy well before AI became a popular topic. A new report by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) examines how these authorities are leveraging AI, highlighting four main areas where the technology is being utilized: data and statistics collection, macroeconomic and financial analysis, payment system oversight, and supervision and financial stability analysis. According to the report, over 85% of central banks in advanced economies (AEs) are using big data for economic research, a share that…

The Swiss Federal Council has launched a consultation on a proposed amendment to the Financial Institutions Act. The bill aims to update the regulatory framework to support market development, integrate innovative financial technologies, and mitigate risks to financial stability, integrity, and investor and consumer protection. The consultation will run until 6 February 2026. The proposed amendment introduces two new license categories. Payment instrument institutions would replace the existing fintech license, with adjustments to improve attractiveness and consumer protection. Client funds would be segregated in the event of institution failure, and the current CHF 100 million limit on taking client deposits…

Allica Bank, a UK-based SME lender, has acquired Kriya, a SME lending fintech also based in the UK, specialising in working capital and embedded finance. The acquisition expands Allica’s SME lending capabilities and marks its entry into the embedded payments market. The two businesses are seen as a strategic fit, combining complementary strengths in lending and payments. Kriya will continue to operate under its own brand, with CEO and co-founder Anil Stocker remaining in charge. All Kriya employees will join Allica as part of the transaction. Since 2020, Allica has lent £3.5 billion to SMEs. With Kriya, the bank aims…

China’s Baidu announced that Apollo Go, its autonomous ride-hailing service, has entered a strategic partnership with PostBus, the public transport subsidiary of Swiss Post, to launch an on-demand autonomous mobility service, AmiGo, in Switzerland. The service aims to complement Switzerland’s public transport system by deploying Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicles in eastern Switzerland, covering the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Trial operations are set to begin in December 2025, with full-scale operations expected by the first quarter of 2027. Once launched, customers will be able to book autonomous vehicles through a mobile app for private or shared…

TrueLayer, a London-based Pay by Bank network, has announced an agreement to acquire Zimpler, a Sweden-based Pay by Bank provider. The deal combines two key players in Europe’s account-to-account (A2A) payments space, strengthening TrueLayer’s presence across the region. The acquisition expands TrueLayer’s network to more than 20 million users, adding coverage in Sweden and Finland, and incorporating Swish payment rail integration. This move enhances the company’s reach in the Nordic market, where A2A payments already see high adoption rates. Founded in 2012 by Johan Friis and Kristofer Ekman Sinclair, Zimpler has established a strong position in the Nordics. Following the…

Sola, a European fintech infrastructure company developing a payments and open banking gateway, has partnered with Salt Edge, a provider of open banking solutions, to expand its payment capabilities and support the adoption of alternative payment methods across Europe. Through integration with Salt Edge’s Payment Initiation Solution (PIS), Sola will have access to Salt Edge’s network of thousands of banks across the continent. The integration aims to provide merchants with more reliable, secure, and faster payment experiences in multiple markets. “Partnering with Salt Edge is a key milestone for Sola as we expand our open banking capabilities across Europe. Salt…

UBS has appointed Daniele Magazzeni as Chief AI Officer to strengthen the firm’s AI strategy, drive innovation, and expand the use of emerging technologies. Daniele joins UBS from J.P. Morgan, where he was Chief Analytics Officer for the EMEA region and the Commercial and Investment Bank. In that role, he led the firm’s global analytics agenda across markets, banking, payments, and securities services, focusing on developing AI capabilities, fostering innovation, and ensuring sound governance. He previously served as Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence at King’s College London. In his new position, Daniele will oversee UBS’s AI strategy, focusing on improving…

Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has begun rolling out two new products that tap into the core of retail banking, everyday spending. The launch marks a major step in Klarna’s mission to disrupt traditional retail banking and become a trusted everyday spending partner for consumers in the UK. The first product, Klarna Balance, allows customers to store e-money in a Klarna account, enabling them to add and withdraw funds, receive refunds, and earn cashback rewards on certain Klarna purchases. The second, the Klarna Card, is a flexible debit-first payment card where purchases are made by debit…

Ripple has announced the acquisition of GTreasury, a US-based treasury management systems provider, in a deal valued at US$1 billion. The acquisition marks Ripple’s expansion into the corporate treasury sector, giving it access to a broad base of large international clients. GTreasury has over 40 years of experience supporting treasury operations for major global brands. “For too long, money has been stuck in slow, outdated payment systems and infrastructure, causing unnecessary delays, high costs, and barriers to entering new markets, problems that blockchain technologies are ideally suited to solve,” said Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO. “Ripple’s and GTreasury’s capabilities together bring…

Cryptocurrency and fintech sponsorships in Formula One (F1) have reached record levels in 2025, totaling US$273.6 million across 21 partners, according to new research by BitOK, an anti-money laundering (AML) solution provider for the crypto industry. The total represents a 9% year-over-year (YoY) increase in value and a 40% YoY increase in deal count, up from 15 partnerships worth US$251 million in 2024. These figures reflect substantial growth from previous years. Between 2019 and 2021, F1 recorded a total of 12 partnership deals involving eight different fintech or crypto partners, and totaling US$59.5 million. Since 2019, 30 crypto and fintech…

Banco Santander announced plans to merge Openbank and Santander Consumer Finance (SCF) into a single legal entity, operating its European consumer finance businesses under the Openbank brand. The integration will begin in Germany, with other markets to follow. Both Openbank and SCF sit within Santander’s Digital Consumer Bank (DCB) global business. The merger aims to simplify operations, enhance customer offerings, and strengthen partnerships with auto manufacturers, dealers, and merchants across Europe. Openbank, Santander’s digital-first banking brand, will carry the endorsement “by Santander” to reflect its connection to the wider group. The bank currently operates in Spain, Germany, Portugal, and the…

Moove, an Africa-based global mobility company, has announced an expansion of its partnership with US-based Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company, to serve as its fleet operations partner in London. The collaboration will focus on establishing the operational framework for Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service in the city. Together, the companies aim to support the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable autonomous transport in one of the world’s most active ride-hailing markets. Moove already operates an established mobility business in London, and its operational expertise and understanding of local transport dynamics position it as a key partner for Waymo’s planned entry…