Der Bitcoin hat sich in den vergangenen Jahren auf beeindruckende Weise längst von einem Nischenexperiment zu einem global beachteten Finanzinstrument entwickelt. Makroökonomische Einflussfaktoren sind dabei stärker in den Fokus gerückt. Geldpolitik, Inflation und Regulierung sowie die institutionelle Nachfrage wirken sich nun deutlich spürbarer auf den Kurs aus als in den frühen Phasen der Kryptowährung. Der Blick auf die voraussichtliche Entwicklung des Bitcoins bis 2030 richtet sich daher weniger auf kurzfristige Marktbewegungen, sondern muss vor allem die strukturellen Entwicklungen berücksichtigen. Makroökonomische Rahmenbedingungen als Preistreiber Zu den zentralen Einflussgrössen für risikobehaftete Anlageklassen wie den Bitcoin gehören unter anderem: Globale Konjunkturzyklen Zinsniveaus Inflationsraten…

Fiserv has announced a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to integrate AI more deeply into its development platforms and operations. The partnership aims to enhance internal productivity and support the delivery of AI-driven solutions for Fiserv clients, including financial institutions, businesses, and consumers. Fiserv will deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot across its global workforce, providing employees with AI tools to support decision-making and improve work efficiency. In parallel, Fiserv is working with Microsoft to extend its use of Microsoft Foundry, an Azure-based AI platform for building, deploying, and managing AI applications securely. The adoption of these tools is expected to streamline processes…

Apple and Chase have announced that Chase will become the new issuer of Apple Card. The transition is expected to take place over the next 24 months. Apple Card users will continue to have access to existing features. These include up to 3% Daily Cash back on purchases, spending management tools, Apple Card Family, access to a high-yield Savings account, and Mastercard’s global acceptance and benefits. Mastercard will remain the payment network for Apple Card. “We’re incredibly proud of how Apple Card has transformed the credit card experience for customers by delivering innovative tools that empower users to make healthier…

Swiss software company Adnovum has acquired IT service providers iSPIN and Koch IT, consolidating its capabilities in secure digitalisation. The acquisitions expand Adnovum’s cybersecurity offering with a Swiss-based Security Operating Center (SOC) and strengthen its expertise in managed security services, system engineering, and custom software development. The company can also extend its portfolio to clients in the energy, financial, and public sectors. iSPIN, founded in 1999, brings 40 IT specialists to Adnovum and is a leading provider of cybersecurity and network solutions as well as IT security consulting. Its services complement Adnovum’s existing identity and access management solutions, creating one…

PayPal has announced a partnership with Microsoft to support the launch of Copilot Checkout within Copilot, allowing users to discover products, make decisions and complete payments without leaving the Copilot experience. The service will launch on Copilot.com, with plans to expand to other Copilot-enabled channels. Under the integration, PayPal will enable merchant inventory surfacing, branded checkout, guest checkout and credit card payments. Merchants’ product catalogues will become directly purchasable through PayPal’s store sync, part of its recently launched agentic commerce services. The collaboration brings together Microsoft’s AI-driven product discovery with PayPal’s payments infrastructure to support end-to-end shopping journeys. Copilot uses…

In 2026, artificial intelligence (AI) will move from experimentation to enterprise-scale impact in banking, enabling faster servicing, improved operational efficiency, and a high level of personalization. At the same time, money movement will become increasingly seamless, powered real-time payment rails and widespread adoption of mobile wallets. Meanwhile, open banking will continue to mature and expand, unlocking new revenue opportunities for industry stakeholders by turning APIs, data, and analytics into monetizable assets. These are among the key predictions for the global banking sector in 2026. These forecasts, shared in a new by banking platform provider Backbase, draw on interviews with industry…

In 2025, online fraud continued to proliferate, driven by identity fraud, advances in artificial intelligence (AI), and increasingly sophisticated attacks targeting finance and e-commerce, according to a new report by identity verification provider Veriff. The report, which draws on an analysis of Veriff’s global customer data throughout 2025, gives an overview of the state of online fraud across different industries, regions, fraud types and use cases, and highlights emerging trends and evolving attack vectors. Top Identity Fraud Trends in 2026 Fraud remains a persistent threat In 2025, online fraud remained at a consistent level, with 4.18% of all verification attempts…

Swiss21.org, a Swiss provider of digital tools and services for SMEs, has appointed Fabian Schläpfer as Managing Director, effective 1 January 2026. He succeeds Walter Regli, who has played a central role in the company’s development since its founding in 2017 and will move on to new entrepreneurial activities. Schläpfer joins Swiss21 from Abacus Research, where he gained extensive experience in the fiduciary services market and worked closely with SMEs, giving him a strong understanding of SME requirements. “Swiss21 is an integral part of the Abacus ecosystem for Swiss SMEs. With Fabian Schläpfer, an experienced leader who understands the needs…

Lloyds has completed the first UK transaction using Tokenised Deposits, marking a global debut for sterling deposits on a public blockchain. Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets issued the deposits on the Canton Network, a blockchain for regulated financial markets, and used them to purchase a Tokenised Gilt from Archax. Archax then transferred the underlying funds back into its Lloyds account, demonstrating how transactions can move between blockchain and traditional banking systems. The transaction highlights how tokenisation can digitise traditional banking assets, allowing them to be traded or transferred instantly. Unlike private ledgers, the Canton Network offers broader accessibility while maintaining confidentiality.…

Zilch has signed an agreement to acquire Fjord Bank, a Lithuania-based bank with approximately US$120 million in assets, authorised and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania and the European Central Bank. The acquisition provides Zilch with a European banking license, allowing it to expand its operations across Europe. As part of the deal, Zilch will purchase 100% of Fjord Bank and establish its European headquarters in Vilnius, using the city as its operational and regulatory hub. Fjord Bank, founded in 2021, profits as a challenger bank by offering online consumer lending and savings products. The acquisition will enable Zilch to…

BVNK has announced that it has secured direct access to the EU’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) scheme via the Bank of Lithuania’s CENTROlink system. The integration enables BVNK to offer its customers 24/7 instant euro payments, with transactions settling in under 10 seconds and 99% completing in less than five seconds. According to FF News, this development makes BVNK the only unified platform to provide direct access to instant SEPA euro payments alongside stablecoin settlement. By removing intermediaries from the payments flow, direct SEPA access reduces delays caused by downtime at other providers. It also gives BVNK control over…

Barclays has made a strategic investment in Ubyx, a US-based clearing system for digital money, including tokenised deposits and regulated stablecoins. “Interoperability is essential to unlock the full potential of digital assets. As the landscape of tokens, blockchains and wallets evolves, specialist technology will play a pivotal role in delivering connectivity and infrastructure to enable regulated financial institutions to interact seamlessly.” said Ryan Hayward, Head of Digital Assets and Strategic Investments at Barclays. Tony McLaughlin, CEO of Ubyx, said: “Our mission is to build a common globalised acceptance network for regulated digital money, including tokenised deposits and regulated stablecoins. Bank…

bunq, Europe’s second-largest neobank, has formally applied for a US de novo banking license with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The move is part of its plan to serve global citizens and digital-native professionals who live and work between the US and Europe. The challenger has focused its services on digital nomads, who often face limitations with existing financial systems. bunq intends to offer secure digital payments, strong authentication, and AI-powered fraud detection to support everyday transactions and high-risk situations such as international travel. Upon approval, bunq plans to launch in US metropolitan areas with significant…

Nuvei and FreedomPay have announced a partnership to provide enterprise merchants with a unified payments solution for both in-store and digital commerce across global markets. As brands continue to advance their omnichannel strategies, they require payment systems that can connect physical and digital commerce experiences. By integrating FreedomPay’s Next Level Commerce platform, which serves hospitality and retail brands, stadiums, and hotel groups, with Nuvei’s scalable payments infrastructure, merchants can deploy new channels more quickly. They can also introduce customer experiences faster. The collaboration helps merchants maintain a consistent checkout experience across multiple properties and regions. It provides unified reporting, tokenisation,…

Accenture has agreed to acquire Faculty, a UK-based AI services and products company known for applied AI expertise and its decision intelligence product, Faculty Frontier, which provides advanced simulation and optimisation capabilities. Founded in 2014, Faculty has delivered AI solutions to public and private sector clients in the UK and internationally. Its services include AI strategy, AI safety, and the design, build and implementation of high-performance AI systems, supporting the scaled adoption of AI while addressing risks such as bias, privacy, and unexplainable outcomes. Faculty collaborates with leading AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic, and with the UK AI Security…

xAI has completed its upsized Series E funding round, surpassing the initially targeted US$15 billion to raise US$20 billion. Participants in the round include Valor Equity Partners, Stepstone Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Qatar Investment Authority, MGX, and Baron Capital Group, among other partners. Strategic investors NVIDIA and Cisco Investments also took part, supporting xAI’s expansion of compute infrastructure and the development of large-scale GPU clusters. The company reports that 2025 was a year of substantial progress across multiple initiatives. xAI has continued to expand its data centre operations. It has achieved over one million H100 GPU equivalents across…

Crypto.com and Stripe have announced product updates aimed at making it easier for businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments. Through an integration with Stripe, businesses using Crypto.com Pay will be able to accept payments directly from customers’ crypto balances. Crypto.com is the first cryptocurrency platform to be integrated with Stripe for direct balance-based crypto payments. Customers will be able to check out using their preferred cryptocurrency, including stablecoins, while Stripe converts the payment into the merchant’s chosen local currency and deposits it into their bank account alongside other payments. “Increasing everyday accessibility to and utility of cryptocurrencies for consumers and merchants…

Global fintech firm Broadridge has finalised its previously announced acquisition of Acolin, a Zurich-based provider of cross-border fund distribution and regulatory services. The acquisition broadens Broadridge’s distribution capabilities for asset managers, supporting market expansion and asset growth, while enhancing its regulatory services for the international asset management sector. “The combination of Acolin’s proven distribution and compliance technology with our existing analytics and investor communications will allow Broadridge to deliver more extensive regulatory and fund compliance services across the fund lifecycle from creation and registration to ongoing distribution,” said Michael Tae, Broadridge’s Group President of Funds, Issuer, and Data-driven Solutions. “Together,…

The Board of Directors of radicant bank (radicant) has elected Matthias Kottmann as its new Chairman, succeeding Marco Primavesi, who announced his resignation in June 2025. Matthias Kottmann took up the role on 1 January 2026. His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the organization, following the November 2025 announcement that radicant will cease its banking operations and return its license. This decision was made by the Board in consultation with its majority shareholder, Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB). In his new role, Kottmann will oversee the orderly wind-down of the bank’s activities, which is expected to be completed by April…

Australian payments firm Airwallex said that it will invest about €200 million over the next five years in the Netherlands, marking a major European expansion as it shifts focus from its Asia-Pacific base. According to Reuters, the Melbourne-founded fintech plans to increase its Amsterdam headcount by 60% to around 70 full-time employees by the end of 2026, strengthening its European operations. Founded in 2015, Airwallex operates a global payments platform that enables businesses to send and receive international payments, hold multi-currency accounts and process online transactions. The company raised US$13 million in a Series A round led by Tencent in…