Audi Revolut F1 Team has announced a multi-year partnership with Nexo, making the digital asset platform the team’s inaugural official digital asset partner. The agreement will see Nexo’s digital tools showcased globally as the team begins its Formula 1 campaign. The partnership will involve global activation through experiences and digital engagement, including exclusive access, co-created content, and educational initiatives for fans and Nexo clients. Stefano Battiston, Chief Commercial Officer of Audi Revolut F1 Team, said: Stefano Battiston “As we prepare to enter Formula 1, we are highly selective about the partners we bring on this journey. We are proud to welcome Nexo as our official digital asset partner at a moment of strong growth for both organisations.” Antoni Trenchev, Co-founder of Nexo, added: Antoni Trenchev “Partnering with Audi Revolut F1 Team at the start of their new era is a statement about how we see the future. As the team’s official digital asset partner, we will bring meaningful utility and premium experiences to a global audience, grounded in the same discipline and precision that defines success in motor sports.”     Featured image credit: Nexo The post Audi Revolut F1 Team Names Nexo as Official Digital Asset Partner appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Four European startups have been recognized among the top 50 digital health ventures of 2025. These ventures, featured in CB Insights’ annual Digital Health 50, originate from France, Sweden, Austria, and the UK, and are transforming diagnostics, clinical workflows, and preventive care. The 2025 Digital Health 50, released on October 2025, highlights private companies with strong growth potential, focusing on early-stage players with significant market traction, high-quality investors, and growing teams. These 50 companies were selected from a pool of over 12,000 companies based on CB Insights data and predictive signals, as well as its proprietary Mosaic Score, a metric which assesses a company’s health, growth, and success potential. Of the 50 startups selected in 2025, four are headquartered in Europe. These companies, which operate across clinical workflow automation, health risk monitoring, and health assessments, have witnessed significant growth in 2025, making them poised for continued momentum in 2026. Nabla (France) Nabla illustration, Source: Nabla via X With a Mosaic Score of 909 out of 1,000, Nabla stands as the most prominent digital health startup in Europe and the second most promising globally. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Paris, Nabla is an AI assistant in clinical care, helping clinicians generate high-quality notes in seconds and streamline multiple workflows through ambient documentation, dictation, and real-time coding support. The platform combines advanced ambient AI, dictation and clinical nudges to fit naturally into a clinician’s workflow, and integrates with all major electronic health record (EHRs), including Epic, Cerner, athenahealth, NextGen, Greenway Health, and Opus. It supports more than 35 languages, and is used across over 130 health systems and provider groups. Nabla claims its technology enables clinical documentation time to be reduced by more than half, leads to 1.5 times more appointments, and mitigates clinician burnout by 27%. The company says it “has multiplied its revenue by five” over the past six months and now supports over 85,000 clinicians. Currently, the company is building a comprehensive adaptive agentic platform, expanding beyond documentation into a “more agentic model of clinical AI.” This new evolution of its technology would help with coding, proactive EHR actions, and would support professionals across new care settings and clinical roles. Nabla has raised a total of US$120 million in funding from HV Capital, Highland Europe, Cathay Innovation, and other investors. It secured its latest round in June 2025, raising US$70 million in a Series C funding round. Neko Health (Sweden) Neko Body Scan, Source: Neko Health With a Mosaic Score of 835 out of 1,000, Neko Health is the second most promising digital health startup in Europe and the 19th one globally. Founded in 2023 and headquartered in Stockholm, Neko Health offers comprehensive body scans to monitor risk factors for a range of health conditions from pre-diabetes to cancer. It combines advanced technology, thoughtful design, and clinical care to deliver fast, actionable insights that help detect potential health issues early and support long-term wellbeing. At the heart of Neko Health’s offering is the Neko Body Scan, a 60-minute comprehensive, non-invasive and radiation-free assessment that captures millions of health data points. Using proprietary sensors and blood analysis, results are delivered on-site within minutes, followed by a consultation with a medical professional to discuss personalized health findings. Neko Health says it has witnessed significant growth, delivering six times more scans in 2025 than in 2024, with global signups now exceeding 300,000 people. It also claims that of the thousands of scans it completed in Stockholm during 2024, 1.2% revealed life-threatening conditions, and 6.4% found “medically significant findings requiring clinical attention,” underscoring the value of proactive, technology-enabled health screening in identifying serious conditions early. Neko Health currently offers the Neko Body Scan experience at six locations in Stockholm, London and Manchester. Its New York City location is slated to open in the spring of 2026, marking its first in the US and representing the company’s next phase in scaling its preventive, technology-driven care. Neko Health secured its last round in January 2025, raising US$260 million in a Series B funding round and reaching a valuation of US$1.8 billion. PocDoc (UK) PocDoc’s app based 5 marker lipid test, powered by its diagnostic cloud, Source: PocDoc With a Mosaic Score of 704 out of 1,000, PocDoc is the third most promising digital health startup in Europe and the 46th most promising globally. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Cambridge, PocDoc is an app-based technology platform that is leading the way in smartphone-based rapid testing for cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal disease. The company provides accessible and efficient health assessments in under ten minutes, allowing anyone with a smartphone or tablet to test themselves for a range of major diseases or conditions via a fingerprick of blood, receive a full health assessment that puts those results in context and then be offered solutions to address any health-related issues that arise. The PocDoc platform is designed to work with the company’s proprietary, quantitative blood tests, which have been developed in-house and are focused on preventative disease areas covering cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and renal disease. However, the platform can also integrate other existing rapid tests, digitize the results, and provide the same health assessment and follow-on care pathways. PocDoc, which has won three Innovate UK awards and MedTech Breakthrough award for its technology, says it secured the UK’s largest ever pre-Series A in November 2024, surpassing GBP 10 million (US$13.4 million) in total funds. Xund (Austria) Xund mockup, Source: Xund With a Mosaic Score of 693 out of 1,000, Xund is fourth most promising digital health startup in Europe and the 47th most promising globally. Founded in Vienna in 2018, Xund specializes in building industry-leading software-as-a-medical device (SaMD), enabling digital interactions from prevention to diagnosis. The company provides the technological foundation for compliant digital healthcare products, building solutions that help guide patients to the right point of care, support medical professionals with fast access to validated medical knowledge, and enable digital-first healthcare interactions at scale. Xund, which serves more than 10 million patients, secured a EUR 6 million (US$7 million) in pre-Series A in March 2025 to accelerate expansion in the German, Austrian and Swiss (DACH) region and the UK, driven by increasing demand for solutions with a Medical Device Regulation (MDR) certification.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by semihymc via Freepik The post 4 European Startups Named Among Top 50 Digital Health Ventures of 2025 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

After nine years as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SIX and member of the Executive Board, Daniel Schmucki will step down to pursue new professional opportunities outside the company. Daniel Schmucki joined SIX in 2017 and has played a key role in shaping the Group’s financial strategy and developing its financial profile. He restructured and realigned the CFO division, contributing to the ongoing development of the company. Notably, under his leadership, SIX issued the world’s first digital bond in 2021, supporting the capital market readiness of the Group. Bjørn Sibbern, Chief Executive Officer, said: Bjørn Sibbern “On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board, I would like to thank Daniel for his great commitment. He has shaped SIX over many years through his high level of professional expertise and personal engagement. His reliability and strong sense of responsibility have contributed significantly to the development of SIX.” Daniel Schmucki will continue to serve as CFO until the company appoints a successor and ensures a smooth transition.     Featured image credit: SIX The post Daniel Schmucki to Step Down as SIX CFO appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Swiss insurtech Credura has introduced what it describes as the first AI-based insurance adviser for private individuals, following a successful pilot phase. The platform, operated by the FINMA-licensed company, automates the ongoing management of insurance policies and provides independent advice across insurers and products. Unlike traditional insurance advice, which is typically delivered at specific moments, Credura’s digital adviser operates on a continuous and proactive basis. It monitors market conditions, identifies potential optimisation opportunities and allows users to implement changes with only a few steps. A typical Swiss household holds multiple insurance policies with different providers, all of which require regular review to ensure coverage and terms remain appropriate. This process is time-consuming and often complex. Roman Loosli “A human adviser can only reach this level of depth with significant time and cost,” said Roman Loosli, Co-Founder of Credura and former CTO of fintech company Stableton. “Our technology delivers the same level of analysis in seconds, making continuous support economically viable for the first time.” Credura’s platform consolidates existing policies regardless of provider and monitors them on an ongoing basis. Interfaces with 17 major insurers support data exchange, while market comparisons cover all available providers. According to the company, several hundred households took part in the pilot phase. The service is centred on an interactive digital dashboard through which users can address insurance-related questions directly. The AI system accesses original policy documents and responds to individual queries, such as coverage details or specific scenarios. Users can submit claims and service requests digitally at any time, and the system manages communication with insurers while keeping them informed of progress. The platform also responds automatically to changes in market conditions or in a customer’s personal circumstances. Credura offers two remuneration models. Under an annual flat-fee option priced at CHF 250, the company returns all commissions in full to the customer. Alternatively, a free model operates on a commission basis, guided by the same neutral AI logic.     Featured image credit: Credura The post Credura Launches AI-Based Insurance Adviser for Private Customers appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Swiss Fintech Awards have opened applications once again for start-ups with a Swiss background in the fintech, insurtech, and blockchain sectors. The awards aim to support Swiss innovators and contribute to the development of the country’s fintech ecosystem. The awards recognise outstanding start-ups and influencers in the industry. The jury selects winners in three categories: “Early Stage Start-up of the Year”, “Growth Stage Start-up of the Year”, and “Fintech Influencer of the Year”. The jury comprises around 20 experts and investors from across the fintech sector. Eligible applicants include early and growth stage start-ups with a meaningful Swiss connection, such as Swiss founders or organisations headquartered in Switzerland. Participation in the awards provides multiple opportunities for exposure and support. Shortlisted start-ups have the chance to present their business to the jury, which includes investors, influencers, and potential clients. The top 10 applicants receive expert coaching and consulting on topics including legal matters, business expansion, and marketing, and gain access to networking events within Switzerland’s finance and fintech community. They are also featured in relevant media as innovative companies. The winner in the early-stage category receives a five-figure prize funded by the Supporters Club of the Swiss Fintech Awards. Applications for the Swiss Fintech Awards are open to eligible start-ups seeking recognition within Switzerland’s fintech ecosystem. Source: Swiss Fintech Awards   Featured image credit: Swiss Fintech Awards The post Swiss Fintech Awards Open for Applications appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Fujitsu Limited and SC Ventures have announced the launch of Qubitra Technologies. It is a joint venture aimed at advancing quantum computing applications and building a global quantum ecosystem. Previously incubated as Project Quanta in September 2025, Qubitra will operate from the UK. The company will focus on high-performance applications and a marketplace platform for quantum software and hardware providers. Vishal Shete, CEO of Qubitra, said: Vishal Shete “Our mission at Qubitra is to turn quantum innovation into business impact by combining high-performance applications with a collaborative ecosystem that advances the industry.” Alex Manson, CEO of SC Ventures, added: Alex Manson “Qubitra, with access to Fujitsu’s quantum software and hardware, will leverage quantum technology across a number of use cases to rewire the DNA in banking and beyond.” Qubitra plans to develop proprietary applications in areas such as fraud detection, derivatives pricing, and financial markets trading, using quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms alongside machine learning methods. Initial implementations with financial institutions, hedge funds, and family offices are underway, with the first go-live expected in early 2026. The venture is also creating a marketplace platform that connects quantum software and hardware providers with end users. The platform will integrate multiple technologies, including Fujitsu’s quantum hardware, Digital Annealer, and proprietary applications, supporting experimentation and deployment across the quantum stack. It will include both Qubitra’s and third-party offerings, with a usage-based model to encourage participation. A pilot group of users is expected in 2026, with a full launch to follow. The founding leadership team combines expertise in finance, frontier technologies, and fintech venture-building. Vishal Shete leads as CEO, Daniel Wynne serves as COO, bringing experience in banking and capital markets, and Kugendran Naidoo is CSO, specialising in quantum algorithms and machine learning. This neutral summary outlines Qubitra’s focus on delivering practical quantum applications and building a collaborative ecosystem for the quantum community.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Amax Photo via Freepik This article first appeared on Fintech News Hong Kong The post Fujitsu and SC Ventures Launch Qubitra to Advance Quantum Computing appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Alpaca, a US-based brokerage infrastructure provider, has raised US$150 million in a Series D funding round led by Drive Capital, valuing the company at US$1.15 billion and confirming its status as a unicorn. Drive Capital co-founder and partner Chris Olsen will join Alpaca’s board as part of the investment. The company also secured a US$40 million line of credit to support its balance sheet as it expands internationally. Yoshi Yokokawa “Our mission is to open financial services to everyone on the planet,” said Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca. “We are building the global standard for brokerage infrastructure so our partners can bring investing to more people.” Founded to provide brokerage infrastructure through APIs, Alpaca enables access to stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, crypto and fixed income products. The company operates a self-clearing custody model. It currently works with more than 300 partners across over 40 countries. Together, these partnerships support millions of brokerage accounts at banks and fintech companies. Investors participating in the round include Citadel Securities; Opera Tech Ventures, the venture arm of BNP Paribas; MUFG Innovation Partners; Flat Capital; DRW Venture Capital; Kraken; Altered Capital; X&KSK; Bank Muscat; and Endeavor Catalyst. Returning investors include Portage, Horizons Ventures, Social Leverage, Unbound, Diagram and Derayah Financial. Revolut CTO Vlad Yatsenko also participated as an angel investor. Alpaca said the funds will be used to strengthen its global infrastructure, expand its regulatory footprint, develop institutional trading capabilities, and support the integration of traditional and on-chain financial systems.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by János Venczák via Unsplash The post Alpaca Raises $150M, Reaches Unicorn Status appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Torq, a security operations company focused on AI-driven automation, has closed a US$140 million Series D funding round, bringing its valuation to US$1.2 billion and total funding to US$332 million. The funds will support the expansion of Torq’s AI SOC Platform, which combines automation and human oversight to manage security operations at scale. Ofer Smadari, CEO and co-founder of Torq, said the investment accelerates the company’s mission to transform the Security Operations Center (SOC). Ofer Smadari “Global enterprise adoption of our AI SOC Platform has validated our vision for the future of security operations. Fortune 100 customers are using our AI Agents for everything from investigation to response.” Torq AI Agents enable teams to deploy and automate complex security tasks without relying on extensive professional services. Fortune 500 SOCs use them daily to manage millions of alerts and investigations. The company has also expanded into the US Federal and Public Sector markets through its partnership with Merlin Ventures, which brings experience in government compliance and FedRAMP requirements. Torq now protects multinational enterprises including Marriott, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Uber, and Virgin Atlantic.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Nauthar via Freepik The post Torq Secures $140M Series D, Accelerates AI-Driven Security Operations appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

At the end of December 2025, DZ BANK received MiCAR authorisation from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to operate its cryptocurrency platform, “meinKrypto”. The platform allows primary institutions of the cooperative financial network to offer retail customers access to crypto trading. Each Volksbank and Raiffeisenbank must now submit their own MiCAR notification for “meinKrypto” to BaFin. Once approved and implemented, customers will be able to invest in crypto assets entirely digitally. Integrated within the VR Banking App, “meinKrypto” functions as a wallet for self-directed investors and is not part of standard retail advisory services. At launch, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Cardano (ADA) will be available. Each cooperative bank decides individually whether to offer the crypto solution. “meinKrypto” was developed jointly by Atruvia, the IT service provider for the cooperative network, and DZ BANK. Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody manages asset custody, while execution is handled via EUWAX.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by lekhawattana via Freepik The post DZ BANK Granted MiCAR Authorisation for “meinKrypto” Crypto Platform appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has published a new supervisory communication outlining how it assesses the risks associated with the custody of crypto-based assets. The communication sets out the requirements institutions must meet to ensure the secure safekeeping of such assets. FINMA notes growing interest in crypto-based assets and related services within the Swiss financial market. An increasing number of customers wish to trade, invest in, and securely store cryptocurrencies. In response, FINMA-supervised institutions have expanded their offerings in these areas. In the new supervisory communication, FINMA highlights the specific risks involved in the custody of crypto-based assets such as Bitcoin and Ether. These risks arise from the underlying distributed ledger technology. Mitigating them requires specialised expertise and robust technical infrastructure. Where custody services are provided abroad, additional legal complexities may arise, particularly in the event of the custodian’s insolvency. In such cases, it must be ensured that customers’ crypto-based assets do not form part of the custodian’s insolvency estate. FINMA’s communication makes clear that the secure custody of crypto-based assets requires appropriately supervised service providers, both in Switzerland and internationally, as well as clear rules to protect customers in the event of insolvency. Responsibility for the selection and use of such providers remains with the licensed financial institutions.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by luckystep via Freepik The post FINMA Outlines Custody Requirements for Crypto-Based Assets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Norway’s central bank, Norges Bank, has assessed whether introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) is necessary to ensure that payments in Norwegian kroner remain secure, efficient, and attractive. Governor Ida Wolden Bache said: Ida Wolden Bache “Norges Bank has concluded that introducing a central bank digital currency is currently not warranted. The need for such a currency may, however, change in the future. We will be ready to introduce a central bank digital currency if it becomes necessary to maintain an efficient and secure payment system.” CBDCs can take two forms. Retail CBDC would be universally accessible, similar to cash or bank deposits. Wholesale CBDC would be limited to banks and other financial entities with central bank accounts and could be used for interbank settlement. In a wholesale CBDC, banks’ deposits are represented as digital units – tokens – on a blockchain-based ledger. Norges Bank notes that Norway’s payment system is already efficient and secure, with stable operations, fast payments, low costs, and robust contingency arrangements. The need for a CBDC could change as financial technology evolves. Tokenisation may bring efficiency gains and reduce settlement risk, but other risks remain, and future usage is uncertain. Many central banks are researching CBDCs, and the Eurosystem is considering a digital euro. Standards and IT systems for CBDCs are not yet fully developed, though international adoption could enable infrastructure collaboration. Norges Bank will continue research on tokenisation and CBDCs, including experimental testing and collaboration with payment system participants. The Bank will also provide input to legislation and explore potential use of Eurosystem CBDC solutions and standards.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Wikimedia Commons The post Norges Bank Sees No Immediate Need for Digital Currency appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Anthropic, a US-based AI company, has signed a term sheet for a US$10 billion funding round at a US$350 billion valuation, according to the Wall Street Journal. The financing is being led by Coatue and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, according to a source familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions. Former OpenAI research executives, including CEO Dario Amodei, founded Anthropic in 2021, and the company develops a family of large language models called Claude. Amazon has invested billions of dollars in Anthropic, while in November, Microsoft and Nvidia announced plans to invest up to US$5 billion and US$10 billion, respectively. Anthropic is racing to stay ahead of competitors such as Google and OpenAI, the latter of which has seen its valuation rise to US$500 billion. Late last year, Anthropic launched three new models: Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Haiku 4.5, and Claude Opus 4.5.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Anthropic Secures $10B Funding at $350B Valuation appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Rain, a US-based infrastructure provider for stablecoin payments, has raised US$250 million in a Series C funding round led by ICONIQ. The round also included participation from Sapphire Ventures, Dragonfly, Bessemer Venture Partners, Galaxy Ventures, FirstMark, Lightspeed, Norwest, and Endeavor Catalyst. The round values Rain at US$1.95 billion and brings total funding to over US$338 million, coming just four months after its Series B and ten months after its Series A. More businesses and consumers are using stablecoins to transfer value in global payments. Rain provides infrastructure that allows enterprises to adopt on-chain payment rails while maintaining familiar user experiences. Its platform lets companies launch compliant stablecoin cards that work wherever Visa is accepted, convert fiat into stablecoins, manage wallets, and process payouts. Farooq Malik “Stablecoins are quickly becoming the way money moves in the 21st century, but adoption by users worldwide requires cards and apps that just work,” said Farooq Malik, CEO and Co-founder of Rain. “In the last year, our active card base has increased 30x and our annualised payment volume has increased 38x, but we’re still in the early innings. This funding lets us bring that infrastructure to new markets and help additional enterprises go live and scale quickly everywhere.” Rain’s technology currently processes over US$3 billion in annualised transactions for more than 200 partners, including Western Union, Nuvei, and KAST. Its platform reaches programmes capable of serving 2.5 billion people globally. The Series C funds will support Rain’s expansion into licensed markets across North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They will also enable further development of its stablecoin payments platform, including potential strategic acquisitions.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Rain Raises $250M to Expand Stablecoin Payments Infrastructure appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Artificial intelligence (AI) agents are a fast-growing sector, propelled by rapid advances in large language models (LLMs), declining compute costs, and improved integration with enterprise software. Since 2023, more than 500 startups have been founded across over 20 categories, according to CB Insights. Top AI agent startups based on growth potential, customer traction, and funding recency, Source: AI Agent Bible, CB Insights, Oct 2025 Booming funding activity has further helped propelled this market. In 2024, AI agent startups raised US$3.8 billion, nearly tripling 2023’s total. Top AI Agent Trends in 2026 Every major tech player is now deploying agents or agent tooling. Microsoft, for example, integrates AI agents broadly through Copilot across Microsoft 365. Google DeepMind has introduced several agent initiatives including Project Astra, a prototype exploring future capabilities of a universal AI assistant; Project Mariner, which explores the future of human-agent interaction; and Jules, an AI-powered autonomous coding agent. Most recently, Lenovo debuted Lenovo and Motorola Qira, a cross-device AI “super agent” positioned as a “Personal Ambient Intelligence System”. Designed to work across Lenovo and Motorola devices, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, and wearables, Qira aims to deliver a unified intelligence layer that supports everyday tasks, creativity, and communication, while processing inputs only when users choose to enable them. Looking ahead, CB Insights expects momentum in the agentic AI landscape to continue. In a report released in October 2025, it shares its predictions for 2026, forecasting accelerating investment in voice-based interfaces, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) consolidation around agentic platforms, and advances in agentic commerce and payments, among the key trends for the year to come. Voice AI accelerates In 2026, development in voice AI will accelerate as leading generative AI (genAI) companies continue to concentrate investment in the technology. These ventures are positioning themselves for a future where humans interact with AI via conversation rather than text interfaces. This trend is reflected in recent moves by major tech companies. Last year, Meta acquired voice AI startups Play AI and WaveForms, two startups developing audio AI systems that can emulate human speech indistinguishably. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Microsoft have upgraded their AI applications with enhanced voice capabilities and improved audio models, further signaling the shift toward voice-first AI interaction. Agent AI sees wave of M&A In Q1 2025, agentic solutions led the top AI exits. Moveworks, Weights and Biases, and OfferFit secured the three largest deals among 85 acquisitions at valuations of US$2.9 billion, US$1.7 billion, and US$325 million, respectively. These transactions underscore agent AI as the primary focus of industry consolidation. Overall, more than 35 acquisitions took place in the broader AI agent and copilot space in 2025 as enterprise buyers sought to build comprehensive agent solutions to gain a competitive edge. CB Insights expects consolidation in two more areas: sales and marketing AI agents, which represent a low-hanging fruit for software-as-a-service (SaaS) leaders’ agent plans; and the coding AI agent and copilots market, a fractured space which has seen explosive growth and soaring valuations, making it ripe for consolidation. Economic pressures mount In 2025, AI coding tools were the first area to feel shrinking profit margins. Now, that pressure is spreading to  the broader AI agent market. Smarter and more capable AI models are significantly more expensive to run, leading costs to rise faster than revenue and compressing margins. This forces many startups to change pricing, business models, or sell themselves. CB Insights expects other agent categories with growing usage to rework their pricing models and contracts as reasoning costs mount. Furthermore, as margins tighten, struggling players will seek exits, a trend already evident in the acquisition of Windsurf by Cognition after the startup’s licensing deal with Google. Agentic commerce advances A new class of startups is emerging to support agentic commerce. These companies are building AI-native payment rails and digital wallets that let users authorize spending by AI agents, laying the groundwork for fully autonomous shopping. Stripe, for example, launched in September 2025 an API for agentic payments. It also introduced with OpenAI the Agentic Commerce Protocol, which is designed to enable AI agents to complete purchases on behalf of users. Agentic AI is set to influence over US$1 trillion in e-commerce spending. According to research by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), 81% of US consumers expect to use agentic AI tools to shop, shaping more than half of all online purchases in the near future. Control over data As AI adoption grows, software incumbents are increasingly walling off access to their customer data, recognizing it as a strategic advantage for building AI features. This creates challenges for AI startups whose products depend on pulling data from multiple different enterprise systems at once in order to automate workflows. It also creates friction for enterprises seeking deep integration across their apps. In response, a counter-movement toward openness is starting to appear. In September 2025, Snowflake launched a consortium with over a dozen providers, committing to standardized data formats and improving data access. This development signals enterprise demand for openness over vendor lock-in. CB Insights expects incumbents to continue restricting API access to protect their AI product revenues. Meanwhile, enterprises that want more control over their data will push back by investing in infrastructure that lets them own and manage their data directly. Against this backdrop, some startups will adapt with agents that work despite limited API access, while others will move closer toward where data is stored and processed. Agent monitoring tools emerge Finally, CB Insights expects increased activity in the agent monitoring landscape, especially across voice agent testing, synthetic user generation, and AI productivity measurement. This comes as AI agent reliability remains a challenge in the sector, with failures, hallucinations, and unpredictable behavior creating operational problems. Several deals in 2024 and 2025  reflect enterprise demand for tools that quantify AI agent ROI, and human-AI workforce productivity. Cekura and Coval, both focusing on voice AI testing and simulation, raised US$2.4 million in July 2025 and US$3.3 million in January 2024, respectively. Larridin, which builds technology to help large organizations measure, manage, and scale their use of AI tools across the company, secured US$17 million in seed funding in March 2025.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Top Agent AI Trends Shaping 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Danske Bank has appointed Dr Fiona Browne as its first Head of AI, with responsibility for the strategic development and use of AI across the bank. Browne joins from fintech firm 9fin and has more than 18 years of experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning across industry and academia. She previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Datactics, where she led the delivery of AI-driven solutions for banking and government clients. In her new role, Browne will lead a newly established AI centre of excellence in Belfast. She will work alongside Lyndsay Shields, Danske Bank’s Head of Data & Analytics, as part of the bank’s ongoing investment in AI and data capabilities. Browne said: Dr Fiona Browne “Danske Bank has shown a strong commitment to adopting generative AI responsibly. I’m pleased to join at a time of continued digital development and look forward to supporting the bank in applying AI to improve customer experience and assist colleagues in their work.”     Featured image credit: Danske Bank The post Danske Bank Appoints Dr Fiona Browne as Head of AI appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Stablecoins are no longer just for a tool for cryptocurrency traders, and are now increasingly being adopted for real-world payments, especially cross-border transactions, according to an analysis by FXC Intelligence, a financial data company specializing in payments and e-commerce. The report, released in December 2025, explores the rise of stablecoin in payments, highlighting key market trends, the most prominent players, and ongoing developments. It emphasizes growing use of stablecoins for cross-order payments, and surging interest from corporates amid regulatory clarity. GENIUS Act fuels stablecoin discussions According to the analysis, while interest in stablecoins among cross-border payment companies was significant throughout 2024, it intensified in 2025, coinciding with progress on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. Signed into law on July 18, 2025, the GENIUS Act represents the first major crypto regulation in the US. It aims to regulate the stablecoin market, creating a clearer framework for banks, companies and other entities to issue digital currencies. Mentions of stablecoins increased notably in Q1 2025 earnings calls as the GENIUS Act advanced through Congress and more companies began exploring partnerships with infrastructure providers. Discussions surged in Q2 2025, following Circle’s blockbuster public listing, with many companies, including Remitly, Payoneer, and Western Union, mentioning stablecoins in earnings calls for the first time in Q2 2025. Number of stablecoin mentions during earnings calls for key payment players, Source: FXC Intelligence, Dec 2025 Visa, Mastercard and Remitly among top adopters The FXC Intelligence analysis reveals that, across the past four earnings seasons, Visa and Mastercard have not only been the most vocal but also the most active in deploying stablecoins. Both payment networks had offerings ready before the passing of the GENIUS Act, and continued to announce further solutions afterward, likely a response to concerns that stablecoin-based networks may pose a threat to their business model. Visa’s products include stablecoin-linked cards and USDC settlement for institutions in April and December 2025, respectively. Mastercard, meanwhile, launched an end-to-end stablecoin acceptance and payment ecosystem and Mastercard-branded cards supporting stablecoins in partnership with MoonPay in April and May, 2025, respectively. Cross-border payment specialist Remitly has also been particularly active in the stablecoin sphere. Since 2021, it has supported fiat off-ramps for crypto platforms like Novi, a Meta Platforms company, and Coinbase. In September 2025, Remitly launched Remitly One, a suite of product including Remitly Wallet, a multi-currency store of value for both fiat currencies and stablecoins; Remitly Flex, a “send now, pay later” financing solution; the Remitly Card; and Cash Back Rewards. In the same month, the company added stablecoin rails to its global disbursement network through a new partnership with Bridge, a Stripe company, enabling customers to receive stablecoins into a wallet of their choice, routed from its established fiat infrastructure. Number of stablecoin mentions during Q4 2024-Q3 2025 earnings calls, Source: FXC Intelligence, Dec 2025 Investment gains momentum Growing interest in stablecoins is fueling investment. Over the past year, over a US$1 billion has been invested in companies related to stablecoin-based cross-border payments, with some of the biggest payouts going toward established players. Crypto firm Ripple secured US$500 million in November at a US$40 billion valuation as the firm expands its suite of products. Ripple provides blockchain-based payment infrastructure for banks, payment providers, and businesses to move money across borders. In October, Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain developed by fintech giant Stripe and blockchain venture firm Paradigm, raised US$500 million in a Series A at a US$5 billion valuation. Tempo is a blockchain platform designed for stablecoin-based payments and real-world financial flows. According to FXC Intelligence, at least 19 stablecoin payment players raised rounds of more than US$10 million in 2025, totaling over US$1.5 billion in cumulative capital. Cross-border payments as top stablecoin use case Among major payment companies who have already announced stablecoin products, solutions or offerings, cross-border payments have been a major area of focus. In this model, a payment begins in traditional currency, is converted into a stablecoin for transfer, and is then converted back into traditional currency at the destination. Early adopters include Corpay and Clear Junction. Another growing use case is internal treasury operations, where companies use stablecoins to move money between their own accounts or entities. This application overlaps with cross-border payments but is easier to implement at scale and delivers quicker operational benefits, such as faster settlement and lower costs. Adopters include MoneyGram, and dLocal. Stablecoin payouts, where merchants, contractors, or other recipients receive stablecoins into their own digital wallets, are also see growing adoption, with cross-border payment specialists Rapyd and Thunes offering this capability. A few players have also announced their own stablecoin, including PayPal with PYUSD, Klarna with KlarnaUSD, and Western Union’s planned US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT). Examples of payment companies with stablecoin offerings announced in 2025, Source: FXC Intelligence, Dec 2025 Historically, stablecoins were used by crypto traders to quickly move in and out of volatile cryptocurrencies, and store value without converting to fiat. Today, they have entered the mainstream, attracting traditional finance for their potential to offer a fast and low-cost alternative for transferring money globally. Regulatory clarity has further accelerated stablecoin adoption. In addition to the US, the European Union (EU), Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have established clear frameworks for fiat-backed digital money, allowing enterprise integration to pick up pace. The UK is currently working on on its own regulatory framework, with final rules and detailed requirements expected to come into force in 2026 or later after consultations. The UK Financial Conduct Authority has identitied stablecoin payments as a priority for 2026.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Top Stablecoin Trends to Watch in 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Ripple has secured approval for its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license and Cryptoasset Registration from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The approvals allow Ripple to operate its licensed payments platform in the UK, enabling institutions to send cross-border payments using digital assets. Ripple Payments, the company’s end-to-end cross-border payment solution, manages the flow of funds on behalf of customers and connects them to global payout partners. The platform handles blockchain and operational complexity, allowing businesses to launch digital payment services without managing infrastructure directly. Monica Long “Finance is undergoing a fundamental shift, and we are rapidly moving beyond pilots into a new era where blockchain and digital assets serve as critical infrastructure for the global economy,” said Monica Long, President at Ripple. “Extending Ripple’s licensing portfolio and payments solution is about more than just efficiency; it is about unlocking trillions in dormant capital and realizing a world where value moves instantaneously.” Since 2016, the company has maintained a strong presence in the UK, with its London office being the largest outside the US. It has invested in the local blockchain ecosystem through contributions to developers, start-ups, and universities via its University Blockchain Research Initiative, committing over £5 million to date. Institutional clients can access comprehensive digital asset infrastructure, including payments, custody, and the stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD). Services are built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), which uses XRP for fast, low-cost cross-border settlement.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post Ripple Secures FCA Approval for EMI License and Cryptoasset Registration appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Finshape, a Prague-based provider of digital banking solutions, has appointed Neil Budd as its new Chief Executive Officer. Budd brings over 25 years of experience in banking, technology and consulting, and will focus on the company’s international growth, client value delivery, and expansion across Western Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Current CEO Petr Koutný will assume the role of Chairman of the Board. Neil Budd “With our Agentic Digital Bank Operating System and new capabilities in loyalty and personalisation, I am confident we will continue to help banks deliver tangible value to their customers and accelerate our growth journey to new markets,” said Budd. Finshape has grown steadily in Central and Eastern Europe and in 2025, the company reported EUR 55 million in revenue, a 30% increase year-on-year. International expansion has been supported by the acquisition of the loyalty platform Realtime-XLS from Collinson Group and a strategic partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank. Before joining Finshape, Budd held leadership roles at Finastra, including Vice President and Global Head of Strategic Partnerships, and at Accenture, where he was Managing Director for Financial Services. Finshape serves over 100 financial institutions in 25 countries, supported by more than 600 specialists. Its growth combines organic development with targeted acquisitions.     Featured image credit: Finshape The post Finshape Appoints Neil Budd as CEO appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

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 and create potential new revenue opportunities. Guy Chiarello “By embedding AI inside our workforce and development platforms, we’re not simply improving how we operate; we’re transforming how Fiserv delivers the next generation of innovation for our clients,” said Guy Chiarello, Vice Chairman, Fiserv. “This collaboration with Microsoft enables us to bring intelligent capabilities to market with greater speed and scale, unlocking smarter, more differentiated solutions that help our clients grow, compete, and lead in today’s rapidly evolving fintech and payments landscape.” Karen Del Vescovo, Corporate Vice President, Financial Services, Microsoft, added: Karen Del Vescovo “By combining Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Foundry with Fiserv’s industry expertise, we’re enabling innovation that will help Fiserv’s workforce achieve new levels of efficiency and productivity.” Fiserv has already implemented Microsoft Foundry and GitHub Copilot. To date, the company has processed over 100 billion tokens in Foundry and deployed GitHub Copilot to more than 8,000 software engineers, enhancing developer productivity and accelerating solution delivery.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by feepikcontributorthailand via Freepik The post Fiserv and Microsoft Expand AI Integration appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

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. Jennifer Bailey “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 financial decisions,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “Chase shares our commitment to innovation and delivering products and services that enhance consumers’ lives. We look forward to working together to continue to provide a best-in-class experience and exceptional customer service with Apple Card.” Allison Beer “Apple is an iconic brand recognised globally for its innovation, design excellence, and commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences,” said Allison Beer, Chase’s CEO of Card & Connected Commerce. “We share a commitment to supporting consumer financial health, and we’re proud to deepen our relationship by welcoming them as the newest partner in our co-brand credit card programme. We’re excited to innovate together in the future.” Introduced in 2019, Apple Card is designed to support users’ financial management. It offers tools such as Apple Card Family, Apple Card Monthly Installments for interest-free payments on Apple products, and a linked Savings account for automatic Daily Cash deposits. During the transition period, Apple Card users can continue to use their cards as normal.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Achmad Khoeron via Freepik and Apple The post Chase to Take Over as Apple Card Issuer appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.