Visa is allowing U.S. banks to settle payments using Circle’s USDC stablecoin in a move highlighting how stablecoins are moving closer to mainstream financial infrastructure as institutions look for faster, round-the-clock payment solutions. Visa’s Expanding Crypto StrategyAfter years of experimentation, the payments giant is formally launching the new offering within its U.S. payment network. The program, which started with pilots abroad, lets approved issuers and acquirers send funds over the Solana blockchain using USDC, the company shared on Tuesday. Cross River Bank and Lead Bank are the first partners on board, and broader rollout across U.S. institutions will reportedly continue through 2026. Visa said the integration allows faster fund transfers, seven-day settlement windows, and more efficient liquidity management for banks, without altering how consumers use their cards.The system aims to make treasury operations as seamless as using a blockchain wallet while maintaining the risk controls and compliance standards expected from a global payments provider.“Banks Are Ready for Stablecoin Settlement”“Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it – they’re preparing to use it,” said Rubail Birwadker, Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships at Visa. “Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations.”The U.S. launch builds on Visa’s international pilot programs, which collectively surpassed an annualized $3.5 billion in stablecoin volumes as of November. The company was among the first major payment networks to test stablecoin settlement in 2023 and has since added more blockchains and tokens for flexibility.A powerful milestone in the mainstream adoption and acceptance of USDC, with Visa announcing that all US card issuers (banks, fintechs, crypto firms) can now settle directly with Visa using USDC. Visa also working with Circle to prepare for launching on @Arc.Dollar digital… pic.twitter.com/c7ilmCrXWY— Jeremy Allaire - jda.eth / jdallaire.sol (@jerallaire) December 16, 2025Visa is also collaborating with Circle on Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain designed for large-scale financial applications. Once live, Visa plans to validate transactions on Arc and use it for future settlements. Early adopters Cross River Bank and Lead Bank see the potential in merging legacy payment systems with blockchain. Visa’s Advisory Arm Tackles Stablecoin StrategyTo complement the rollout, Visa Consulting & Analytics launched a Stablecoins Advisory Practice to guide institutions through implementation and compliance. The move reflects growing demand from banks and fintechs exploring blockchain-based settlement and integrating tokenized money into regulated financial structures.As Visa extends USDC settlement across the U.S., its strategy signals a shift in how traditional finance interacts with digital assets – a movement where blockchain infrastructure no longer sits outside the payment system but becomes part of its foundation. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

United Fintech has accepted a minority investment from Dansk Vækstkapital, marking the fintech infrastructure provider's sixth institutional investor and second addition to its shareholder roster this month.The investment fund, which operates under Danske Private Equity and Danske Bank Asset Management, joins a group that already includes Barclays, which became the company's fifth banking investor just last week. The backing from Dansk Vækstkapital adds institutional capital alongside the four other banking giants: BNP Paribas, Citi, Danske Bank, and Standard Chartered.Momentum Builds After Bank Investment SpreeThe company's investor base has grown substantially since early 2024, when BNP Paribas and Citigroup first came aboard in February. Standard Chartered followed in May, and Danske Bank joined as the third institutional investor in August."United Fintech is creating a powerful, highly scalable platform that enables large financial institutions to adopt essential new technology while helping tech founders scale their products effectively," Mikael Deigaard, partner at Dansk Vækstkapital, said in a statement.United Fintech, founded in 2020 by Christian Frahm, operates as an industry-neutral platform connecting financial institutions with fintech solutions through acquisitions and integration. The company completed two acquisitions in 2025, bringing its portfolio to seven fintechs focused on commercial banking, capital markets, and wealth management. One of those deals involved AI lending platform Trade Ledger in a share swap transaction earlier this year.​Platform Model Attracts Banking Partnerships “Bringing Dansk Vækstkapital onto our cap table marks an important step in broadening our investor base with experienced financial backers who share our long-term vision," added Christian Frahm, Founder and CEO at United Fintech. "United Fintech is scaling globally, and the combination of strategic bank investors and strong institutional capital gives us a unique foundation to accelerate that mission."Dansk Vækstkapital focuses on venture funds, buyout funds, and direct minority investments primarily across the Nordic region. Since launching in 2011, the fund has deployed approximately 9.4 billion Danish kroner across four vintages.The investment comes as United Fintech continues consolidating fintech providers that serve institutional clients, aiming to streamline how banks and asset managers access and deploy new technology. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

PayPal has applied for approval to establish PayPal Bank, which would be able to offer loans to small businesses.Other fintechs are also exploring banking licences. Wise is considering a banking licence in the United Kingdom and has engaged senior financial sector figures about roles linked to a potential banking business. The company has also applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank in Texas, allowing direct U.S. dollar settlements with the Federal Reserve.Meanwhile, UK regulators are holding Revolut’s full banking licence over concerns about risk controls amid the fintech’s international expansion. Revolut has operated under a restricted “mobilisation” licence since last year, and authorities are reviewing its risk management before deciding on a full licence.PayPal Seeks Bank Licence for Lending“Establishing PayPal Bank will strengthen our business and improve our efficiency, enabling us to better support small business growth and economic opportunities across the U.S.,” CEO Alex Chriss said in a statement.The company said the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will review the application, along with Utah’s Department of Financial Institutions. PayPal also plans to offer interest-bearing savings accounts to its customers.PayPal $PYPL has applied with the FDIC and Utah regulators to form “PayPal Bank,” a Utah industrial loan company aimed at expanding its small business lending after already providing more than $30B in loans since 2013. pic.twitter.com/rZ0XRLAZ9L— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) December 15, 2025PayPal already provides credit lines to consumers and has been expanding banking-like services amid growing competition from fintech firms seeking to attract business from traditional banks.Shares Rise After Bank AnnouncementShares of PayPal rose 1.5% in extended trading following the announcement. In October, the company reported quarterly revenue of $8.42 billion, up 7% from a year earlier, surpassing analysts’ expectations. In 2025, however, the stock has fallen about 29%, while the S&P 500 has gained nearly 16% over the same period. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

“Make sure you know what's on their roadmap so that you know what you need to prep for and what you need to build,” commented fintech strategist Jas Shah when asked about the ideal stablecoin strategy for brokers during the FMLS:25. Shah – a consultant, writer, and frequent voice in the digital finance space – spoke with Jonathan Fine, Content Strategist at the Ultimate Group, offering a sharp view of an industry at a crossroads: technologically agile, but structurally uneven.He brought strong insights and depth to a conversation that spanned artificial intelligence, stablecoins, and the ongoing transformation of digital banking. Shah has spent nearly two decades building products in financial services, beginning his career as an engineer before focusing primarily on product leadership.Over this time, he has worked at tier 1 financial institutions, helped launch challenger banks and PFM apps, scaled an SME lender as Chief Product Officer, and continues to advise and provide hands-on expertise to organizations developing innovative products. He is also a columnist at Fintech Under the Hood, an online publication with over 6,000 subscribers. Building Digital Banking in MENAMuch of Shah’s current work, he revealed, revolves around digital transformation projects in the Middle East, particularly the challenge of modernizing user experience and payments infrastructure as banks race to engage younger generations.Many banks there are striving to attract younger customers, which requires transitioning from traditional internet banking to fully developed mobile banking experiences – a shift that’s already commonplace elsewhere but still in progress across the region.Stablecoins and the RegulationsThe conversation then turned to stablecoins – a topic that dominated many conversations across the Summit – and how brokers should approach this evolving space. Shah’s advice was pragmatic: start from first principles.“You need to know what your customers are doing,” he said. “Even get them in a room, take them out for dinner, and ask: What do you know about stablecoins? What are your challenges? What are you thinking about for next year? Then you can build something meaningful around that.”Yet optimism was tempered by realism. Regulation, particularly around KYC, AML, and fund segregation, remains murky. “It’s still a challenge,” he acknowledged. “But I think the more adoption that happens, the more regulation will fit around what use cases are across industry. Yeah, we will wait for clarity. Wait-and-see.”The Convergence of Banking, Investing and FintechPerhaps the most forward-looking part of the discussion explored the convergence between neobanks and retail investing – a theme Fine noted as central to the Summit’s evolution. Shah pointed to Revolut as emblematic of this shift, citing its growth, regulatory licenses, and product strategy.You may also like: “Prop Isn’t Finished, but If You’re Coming into Prop Now, You Are,” FMLS:25 Takeaways“Nick approaches product like a finance person with a tech lens,” said Shah. “I think Revolut maybe will become a bigger part of this conference. But I think they're talking about launching their own real estate investing platform for institutional investors plus retail investors.”He suggested that leading digital banks – from Monzo to Starling – will eventually internalize their trading and investment tech stacks, transforming from platform customers into “investment-as-a-service” providers. “And once they've built the tech, they can license the tech and come here as a, you know, investment as a service platform like many of the people here.”Writing Fintech, From Insight to ArtIn a lighter turn, Fine lauded Shah’s long-form writing, particularly his widely read Fintech Under the Hood essays. Asked about his process, Shah described something closer to an artisan’s craft than a journalist’s workflow.“It meanders,” he admitted with a laugh. “I start with what people should know – what’s happening that isn’t being talked about. Then I layer structure: intro, background, timeline, closeout. And then I add the meat.”Shah’s reflections encapsulated a wider narrative running through the Summit halls: fintech is no longer a sideshow to retail investing. It is becoming its infrastructure. As regulation catches up and neobanks mature, a new generation of digital finance builders is quietly turning from disruption to construction. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

“AI is a hot topic, but boards must understand what they are getting into,” said Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, speaking at the Finance Magnates London Summit 2025. In an interview with Finance Magnates Editor in Chief Yam Yehoshua, she shared a measured view of artificial intelligence adoption in regulatory technology, outlining both its potential value and the risks it poses for brokers and financial institutions.AI Use in Compliance Raises Accountability and Onboarding ConcernsMøller said many firms are eager to introduce AI into compliance functions without fully understanding the operational and regulatory implications. “Its usability, accuracy, and accountability are fundamental in compliance,” she said, adding that weak implementation can result in financial burdens, regulatory fines, reputational damage, and interruptions to client onboarding.Founded in 2012, Muinmos was established following its founder’s early concept for an automated system to assess whether financial institutions can onboard clients in line with regulatory requirements. The company develops a SaaS-based regtech platform that uses automation, including AI and machine learning, to support client onboarding and compliance processes across multiple jurisdictions. Automation Often Mistaken for Artificial IntelligenceMøller described the current level of AI maturity in the industry as limited. “A lot of companies talk about AI, but mostly they mean automation,” Møller said. She emphasized that decision-making responsibility cannot be delegated to technology. “The final decision-making must sit with the institution, which retains responsibility and accountability,” she noted.According to Møller, client onboarding is one of the areas where AI can offer near-term benefits, particularly through process support and efficiency gains. However, she said such systems should operate with defined controls and under human oversight, rather than functioning as fully autonomous decision-makers.AI Dialogue Grows Amid Licensing UncertaintyThe discussion also addressed regulatory engagement with AI. Møller observed that regulators are increasingly open to dialogue, including inviting regtech firms into regulatory sandboxes. Despite this, she said many firms continue to operate in fragmented ways. “There is still a gap between using AI and understanding the regulatory framework,” she said, stressing that compliance considerations must remain central as AI tools are applied across business functions.On licensing trends in Europe, Møller pointed to recent approvals granted to firms such as Revolut and eToro by CySEC as signs of regulatory progress. At the same time, she highlighted ongoing uncertainty around passporting within the European Union. “Even if authorities are ready, some regulators are being asked to slow down the pace,” she said, referring to guidance issued by ESMA.Regtech Sees Controlled Shift to AutomationLooking ahead, Møller said client lifecycle management is likely to move toward greater straight-through processing supported by AI. “The future of onboarding is very little human touch, managed through AI—but with the right controls and risk framework,” she said.The discussion highlighted a central tension in regtech today: AI offers efficiency and compliance gains, but its responsible implementation requires careful oversight, regulatory collaboration, and an appreciation of its limitations. For brokers and investment firms, the message is clear: embrace AI, but do so deliberately. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Beeks Financial (LSE: BKS) has signed nuam, the regional holding company that operates stock exchanges in Santiago, Colombia and Lima, as its latest exchange client. The agreement brings Beeks' total new exchange partnerships this year to five.Under the deal, Beeks will provide its Exchange Cloud infrastructure service to nuam through a revenue-sharing arrangement. The platform will let nuam onboard both local and international trading participants across the three markets it operates - the Santiago Stock Exchange in Chile, Bolsa de Valores de Lima in Peru and Bolsa de Valores de Colombia.Beeks Signs Five Exchange Deals in Twelve MonthsBeeks has been adding exchange clients at a steady clip. Earlier this year, the company reported 26% revenue growth for its fiscal year ending June 2025, with profit jumping 91% as exchanges and trading firms increased infrastructure spending. The firm also partnered with TMX Group in September to provide cloud-based access to Canadian markets.The company's Exchange Cloud product is a managed infrastructure stack that lets exchanges offer computing and analytics services to their participants without building the underlying technology themselves. Exchanges can rebrand the platform and maintain direct client relationships while Beeks handles the technical operations."Our Exchange Cloud platform gives nuam the agility, scalability and global connectivity needed to onboard participants quickly and cost effectively, while nuam retains full control of their client relationships and brand," said Gordon McArthur, Beeks' Chief Executive.For nuam, the platform should speed up the process of bringing new participants into its unified market. Trading firms typically face lengthy onboarding procedures when connecting to exchanges, especially across multiple countries with different technical requirements and regulatory frameworks.Latin American Integration Playnuam runs Latin America's first cross-border integrated exchange, combining three national markets under one trading architecture. The company aims to standardize trading conditions and regulations across Chile, Colombia and Peru to attract foreign capital and improve market efficiency in the region.Juan Pablo Córdoba, nuam's Chief Executive, said the Beeks agreement fits the exchange's broader integration strategy. "This agreement supports our mission to build Latin America's first fully integrated multi-country exchange," he said. "The deal adds geographic reach for Beeks beyond its recent contracts with North American and European exchanges. The company has been expanding its infrastructure footprint, including acquiring a stake in LMS in September for access to ultra-low-latency network technology used in high-frequency trading.Beeks also secured a five-year contract with a large forex broker and a Canadian bank earlier this month, worth a combined £4 million. Those partnerships are expected to generate revenue starting in the second half of the fiscal year ending June 2026. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Roughly one-third of stock trading on eToro (NASDAQ: ETOR) now occurs outside traditional market hours, the fintech told FinanceMagnates.com, underscoring how quickly retail investors have embraced extended trading windows.eToro 24/5 Trading Drives 33% Volume Share in Extended HoursThe figure comes less than a month after eToro expanded 24/5 access to all S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks, building on an initial rollout in July that covered 100 top US equities. Trading on the platform runs from Sunday 8:05 p.m. to Friday 4:00 p.m. ET, letting users in Europe and Asia buy Apple, Tesla or Nvidia during their own daytime hours.eToro's data shows the number of traders using after-hours sessions climbed since the July launch and continues to grow as more people discover the feature. The platform expects that trend to accelerate now that every constituent of the two major indices can be traded around the clock.“Our mission has always been to open the global markets and make trading accessible to everyone, everywhere,” Yossi Brandes, VP of Execution Services at eToro, commented during the November’s launch. “We will continue to add more assets and to expand our 24/5 offering to meet the evolving needs of our global community.”A study conducted nearly a year ago by Pepperstone showed how important after-hours trading is for retail investors. Tesla, Alphabet, and Nvidia generated 80 to 90 percent of their gains outside regular market hours. And investors want to capitalize on those moves.Top Stocks Dominate Night SessionsStocks with the highest volumes during standard hours also lead activity in extended sessions, according to eToro. The company pointed out that the overnight market largely mirrors regular trading patterns, with no major divergence in which names get the most attention.“The top stocks trading after hours mirror the top stocks traded in the main session,” eToro representatives told FinanceMagnates.com. “We do not see any strong divergence here.”One exception shows up around earnings announcements. eToro noted elevated activity in stocks reporting quarterly results, as traders react to numbers released after the closing bell or before the opening.The company uses the same metrics to measure liquidity and execution quality in both regular and extended hours, but adds extra safeguards outside the main session to limit price swings that could harm users. Wider spreads and thinner order books remain a reality during off-hours trading, factors eToro has flagged since launching the service.Extended Hours Gain Traction Across Retail BrokerseToro's move puts it alongside Charles Schwab, Robinhood and Interactive Brokers, all of which rolled out 24-hour or near-24-hour trading in recent quarters. Schwab now offers trading on about 40 stocks from 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Friday, while Robinhood provides overnight access on select equities and ETFs.Retail interest in after-hours sessions has climbed alongside market volatility and the popularity of pre-market earnings calls. For international users on platforms like eToro, extended trading solves a time-zone problem, letting them respond to US market developments without staying awake until 2 a.m. local time.eToro CEO Yoni Assia recently said the platform aims to give retail investors tools that approach institutional-level insights, including AI-driven portfolio analysis. He suggested future features could let users get feedback on their holdings from models trained on famous investors' strategies.Recent Moves and Executive ActivityIn early December, eToro launched a stock lending program for UK retail investors, partnering with BNY and EquiLend to let users earn passive income by loaning out shares. The offering brings an institutional practice to retail accounts, adding another revenue stream for active traders.Around the same time, eToro's Global COO and Deputy CEO Hedva Ber filed notice to sell 94,000 shares, worth about $4 million at the time of filing. The shares came from stock option plans, and the sale follows eToro's announcement of a $150 million buyback program.The company reported net income of $57 million in the third quarter, up 48% year-over-year, with revenue climbing 28%. Funded accounts reached 3.73 million, a modest gain of 2.8% from the previous quarter. Assets under administration stood at $20.8 billion at the end of September but slipped to $20.5 billion by October, suggesting some outflows or market declines.Liquidity Concerns PersistThe World Federation of Exchanges has warned that 24/7 trading is "not inevitable nor universally desirable," pointing to risks around thinner liquidity and execution quality outside standard hours. eToro acknowledged those challenges, advising users to review stop-loss and take-profit orders before relying on overnight sessions.Despite the caution, the platform's one-third figure suggests retail investors are willing to accept wider spreads and greater volatility in exchange for trading flexibility. At the same time, eToro is confident that the product will boost – and is already boosting – the number of active traders.„The number of traders has increased since launch and we expect this to increase as more users become aware of 24/5 trading and more stocks are available 24/5,” eToro concluded.That appetite has pushed brokerages to compete on extended hours, turning what was once an institutional perk into a standard retail offering. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

The long-running tension between fintech agility and banking caution is entering a new phase—one shaped not just by regulation and capital discipline, but by the disruptive force of artificial intelligence. That was the underlying message from a senior panel at the Finance Magnates London Summit 2025, where executives from banks, fintechs and technology firms debated how fast is “too fast” when innovation now moves at machine speed.The session, titled “Move Fast & Fix Things? Corporate Culture in Fintechs vs Banks,” brought together Tiama Hanson-Drury, Chief Product and Technology Officer at legal-tech firm Opus 2; Charlotte Bullock, Chief Product Officer at the Bank of London; Elena Novokreshchenova, Board Director at Virgin Money and former Remitly executive; and Ezechi Britton, co-founder of innovation accelerator Collectively Better.From Headcount to Value CreationWhere growth once meant rapid hiring, the panel argued that fintech and banking cultures are now converging around leaner, outcome-driven models. Novokreshchenova, who helped scale Remitly from a three-person operation, said today’s environment demands discipline on both sides of the regulatory divide.“Capital is expensive now,” she said. “Investors are looking very carefully at profitability per head. You have to be mindful of how much you bulk up your team versus what you actually produce.”Britton said the industry has moved beyond what he called “team empire building” toward a sharper focus on revenue and execution. “The question now is not how many people you have, but are you generating revenue, are you profitable, and are you growing?”Hanson-Drury agreed, warning that early-stage companies often mistake hiring for progress. At one former employer, she said, no role could be approved unless someone had already performed the work for three months—an approach designed to prevent premature expansion. Britton admitted he had learned the lesson the hard way: “Six months later you’re going, ‘Oh dear, I’ve got a problem right now.’”Agile, but Not AimlessIf startups move quickly, banks move deliberately—and both models carry risk. Bullock, who has worked in global corporates and early-stage firms, described the extremes. In large institutions, lengthy approval chains can outlast the relevance of the technology under review. In startups, strategy can veer sharply with each new opportunity.“I sometimes describe it as kids playing football,” she said. “One person kicks, everyone follows. It creates change debt—an MVP goes live, but when you try to scale it, the cracks show.”Novokreshchenova added that the cultural divide is also geographic, with US firms historically more tolerant of failure than their European peers. Yet even banks are trying to adapt, she said, though regulators inevitably slow the pace. “By default, they are slower in terms of change,” she said. “But the appetite to improve is clearly there.”McKinsey warned that banks could lose up to $170 billion in global profits, about 9%, as AI agents begin helping consumers automatically move money into higher-yield a/c"Agentic AI” could erode margins by removing the inertia that keeps $23T of deposits stuck in near-0-rate… pic.twitter.com/aXLzZcks6O— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) October 24, 2025AI: Competitive Weapon and Existential RiskWhere the panel showed both excitement and anxiety was artificial intelligence. Hanson-Drury warned that the competitive moat once created by professional judgment in fields such as banking and law is eroding fast.“We’re now in a place where AI is being applied to multi-step processes—reason and judgment,” she said. “What used to be a competitive advantage is no longer one. If legacy players don’t harness this, fintechs will take market share.”But Bullock cautioned against “AI for the sake of AI,” arguing that many use cases are disconnected from real strategy. Novokreshchenova added that implementation—not invention—will define the next phase of disruption. “It’s not plug-and-play,” she said, pointing to the difficulty of embedding new models into fragile legacy data infrastructures.Governance emerged as the sharpest fault line. Bullock offered a stark warning about security risks. “With AI, copying an entire CRM platform could take minutes,” she said. “That’s terrifying.”Britton framed the dilemma bluntly: “Revolut can move fast in a very different way from Barclays. The risk of making a mistake in production is not the same. In banking, the moment you break things for customers, you have a real issue.”AI just went from making viral videos to moving millions of dollars.This fintech is building AI agents to automate finance workflowsHere's the complete breakdown? pic.twitter.com/aSToxkVEdM— AI Frontliner (@AIFrontliner) December 9, 2025The Talent QuestionAs automation accelerates, the panel warned of an unintended consequence: the hollowing out of junior roles. Bullock said entry-level positions are already disappearing. “Who needs an analyst when you have AI at your fingertips?” she asked. “But those people are also our future buyers.”Hanson-Drury said future hires must combine curiosity with humility. “If you’re too fixed on how you used to build products, you’ll be out of date very quickly,” she said, describing how her teams now prototype ideas with AI tools before they ever reach formal approval.Britton, however, urged caution against blind reliance on machine output. Without skepticism, he warned, “you’re going to get a generation of young coders vibe-coding their way into production with no understanding of what the code is doing.”Novokreshchenova added a sobering ethical dimension, citing concerns around AI in debt collection and vulnerable consumers. “Innovation is exciting until there is an accident on the other side,” she said. Her advice to both startups and banks: “Don’t hire yourself. Balance speed with experience.”Strategy Before SpeedAs the discussion closed, a common thread emerged: technology may be accelerating, but strategy and people remain the decisive variables. Hanson-Drury urged firms to ensure every employee understands the basic economics of the business. “We can build faster than ever,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to launch.”Britton offered a final warning against rushing into AI transformations without foundations in place. “Solve your people first,” he said. “Then your process. Then your technology.”The panel ended where it began—on the uneasy balance between velocity and responsibility. In a world where systems can now move at machine speed, the true challenge for banks and fintechs alike is not how fast they can go, but how carefully they choose where to go next. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Trading and investing platform eToro has launched a new UAE-Economy Smart Portfolio, providing retail investors worldwide access to companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market.Global Investors Adjust Portfolios Amid UncertaintySeparately, eToro’s latest Retail Investor Beat surveyed 11,000 investors across 13 countries to assess global retail sentiment worldwide. A majority, 56 percent, expect the current bull market to continue into the next year. Confidence in portfolios remains high at 78 percent, while 51 percent believe they are on track to meet their investment goals. Investors cite political uncertainty, geopolitical instability, and slowing economic growth, affecting 43 percent, 40 percent, and 34 percent, respectively. Anticipated interest rate changes have led 51 percent to adjust portfolios, with growth stocks and crypto among preferred allocations.UAE Companies Open to Global InvestorsGeorge Naddaf, Managing Director of eToro MENA, said the UAE is “one of the fastest-expanding economies in the world, supported by strong GDP growth, government reform, and growing non-oil sectors.” He added that local companies, particularly in banking, telecoms, and energy, are known for “attractive dividend yields.”The portfolio includes 20 leading UAE-listed companies across banking, real estate, energy, utilities, telecommunications, and logistics. Naddaf noted that the exchanges are “quickly becoming leading capital markets in the Middle East with increased foreign participation and growing liquidity,” and the portfolio aims to broaden access for global investors.Portfolio Features and Investment DetailsStocks are selected based on market capitalisation, liquidity, key financial ratios, and analyst consensus ratings. The portfolio delivers an average dividend yield of 3.75%, with some stocks yielding up to 7%, compared with the S&P 500’s 1.15%. Initial investment starts at USD 500, and investors can track performance using eToro’s tools and charts, while updates are available via the platform’s social feed.Previous Additions: DFM and ADX StocksIn August, eToro added 10 stocks from the Dubai Financial Market, covering real estate, banking, utilities, logistics, and transport. Notable names include Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Emaar Properties, and Dubai Islamic Bank, with a combined market capitalization exceeding USD 124 billion.Earlier, in February, eToro added over 30 stocks from the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, across energy, real estate, banking, technology, and healthcare. ADX’s total market capitalization exceeds USD 700 billion. Naddaf said the move helps global users diversify portfolios while giving local investors access to familiar companies. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Demand for tokenised US equities is accelerating, making the asset class an important source of liquidity for global trading platforms. Activity around tokenized stocks surged by 450% during the most recent earnings season, suggesting structural shifts in market behaviour, according to recent Bitget research. Spot and futures markets posted month-on-month increases of 452% and 4,468% respectively, indicating that both speculative and long-term investors are gravitating towards these instruments. What Is Driving the Surge The strongest momentum came from the futures market, where traders focused heavily on mega-cap technology names. Monthly futures volumes in Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Tesla and MicroStrategy expanded at exceptional rates as traders used tokenized contracts to speculate on earnings volatility and AI-related catalysts. Meta alone recorded 40,774% growth. Spot markets showed a different pattern, indicating more defensive positioning. Investors paired exposure to leading technology companies with substantial allocations into tokenized ETFs. Volumes in QQQon and SPYon - tokenized versions of major technology and S&P 500 ETFs - climbed more than thirtyfold. Demand for the tokenized long-duration Treasury ETF TLTon surged by 69,573%, highlighting its role as both a hedge against earnings-season uncertainty and a macro bet on potential US Federal Reserve rate cuts. Why This Matters for Platforms For trading platforms, the surge is more than a spike in one asset class. Tokenized stocks are forming a stable liquidity channel that attracts both high-frequency and long-horizon investors, supporting higher client activity and new commercial opportunities. Their 24/7 structure offers a competitive advantage over traditional equity venues, particularly in Asia and Europe, where investor demand extends beyond US trading hours. Institutional market infrastructure is adapting. Nasdaq has signalled that tokenized equities are a strategic priority, and Switzerland is moving in the same direction. These developments indicate that traditional exchanges are preparing to support continuous, multi-jurisdictional trading in tokenized assets. As regulatory pathways expand, barriers to scaling tokenized offerings continue to fall. The result is a market in which tokenization is moving from experimentation to a meaningful force shaping liquidity flows across the trading ecosystem. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

United Fintech has landed Barclays as its latest banking investor, bringing the British lender onto its board as the fifth major financial institution to back the fintech infrastructure platform in just over two years.The investment puts Barclays alongside BNP Paribas, Citi, Danske Bank and Standard Chartered - all of which have put money into United Fintech since 2023. The company operates as an industry-neutral platform connecting banks, asset managers and wealth managers with fintech solutions."We're excited to partner with United Fintech to accelerate digital transformation across the industry. United Fintech's approach to scaling proven fintech innovation aligns closely with our vision for future-ready financial services," said Ryan Hayward, Head of Strategic Investments at Barclays.Bank-Backed Fintech Portfolio GrowsUnited Fintech has completed two acquisitions this year alone, most recently picking up AI-powered lender Trade Ledger in a share swap deal in November. That followed the April acquisition of CBA, which added trade finance and payments capabilities to the platform.The acquisitions have pushed United Fintech's portfolio to seven fintech companies covering commercial banking, capital markets and investment management. The company now runs 11 offices worldwide with more than 200 employees.Christian Frahm, CEO and founder of United Fintech, pointed to artificial intelligence as a driver for the platform's approach. "With AI accelerating across financial services, industry-wide collaboration has never been more important. With Barclays now onboard, we further strengthen our industry-wide adoption, and United Fintech is well on its way to becoming the trusted ecosystem for enabling that collaboration."Banks Seek Shared Infrastructure PlayThe concentration of major bank investors in a single fintech platform reflects growing interest in shared infrastructure approaches. Instead of building or buying technology independently, banks are backing a common ecosystem where they can access vetted fintech solutions."We remain excited about the prospects of United Fintech delivering real innovation through solutions delivered to well-established financial institutions built on a trusted governance of delivery,” Claus Harder, Head of Group Strategy & M&A at Danske Bank, said. United Fintech was founded in 2020 and operates through a model of selective acquisitions, deep integration and shared infrastructure. The platform handles procurement and deployment of new technology for its financial institution clients.Standard Chartered joined as an investor in August 2024, securing board observer rights as part of its investment. Barclays' deal includes a full board seat, giving the British bank direct input into United Fintech's direction.The company maintains offices in London, New York, Copenhagen, Singapore and the UAE among its 11 locations. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

At FMLS 2025 industry panel on “AI and Marketing in Fintech”, senior marketers from Investing Live, Innovate Finance, ADSS and X delivered a blunt message: artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of acquisition in finance – and many firms are not ready.The End of the Google Era?For more than two decades, digital marketing in finance has been built around Google – organic search at the top of the funnel and paid search further down. That model is now under pressure.“For 20-plus years, the world of marketing was used to the very successful Google model,” said Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at Investing Live. “Google was the 900lb gorilla. And we can start seeing a possibility that in the future that will be almost completely gone. ”He noted that AI gateways like Gemini or ChatGPT changed the journey and many publishers had already seen organic traffic fall 30–50% as AI overlays intercept queries. Jo Benton, the former ADSS executive, argued that the shift is exposing broader weaknesses: “Performance masked weak brands for years. AI is just exposing it faster.” Platforms are witnessing the same behavioural pivot. Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X, said users now discover information differently from the search-led habits of the past decade. “AI surfaces answers before they reach the source — discovery has moved up the stack,” he noted. For content sites and even brokers, this raises a blunt strategic question: if users can get what they need from an AI interface, “what is the reason for them to come to me?”Infinite Content, Finite TrustIf discovery is changing, so is the content itself. AI has made it trivial to generate copy at scale – and that, several speakers warned, is creating a new kind of risk.“We’ve now got the ability to create almost infinite content at close to zero cost,” said Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications. “If we’re not careful about this, there’s going to be so much rubbish out there, people aren’t going to be able to find the truth in the noise.”Levitan cited another cautionary tale: a site called AI Invest, which he said had grown rapidly on Google thanks to fully AI-generated content. “They dominated so much placement there, it was crazy,” he said. “And then Google did the spam update, and now their traffic is zero.”Platforms, too, are struggling to maintain signal over noise. Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X, noted that Grok now scans more than 100 million posts and videos per day to distinguish relevance from clutter.Governance, Education and Uneven AI AdoptionThe panel’s enthusiasm for AI was tempered by repeated calls for governance and internal education.“There are some really strong commercial use cases,” Benton said, pointing to scaling production, automating optimisation and testing campaigns against synthetic audiences. “But what [AI] can’t replace and shouldn’t replace is that strategic thinking and judgement. That framework and governance around it is really, really important.”She argued that organisations have a responsibility to educate their workforces – not only to dispel fears about redundancy but also to ensure consistent adoption. In some firms, product teams have been early adopters, “10x-ing” their output, while marketing, sales and operations lag behind.Gross warned that organisations often adopt AI for the wrong reasons. “Someone senior hears ‘we can do more for less’ and pushes for automation without thinking about the quality implications,” he said. “And that’s how bad content slips out the door.”Beyond Clicks: Reputation, Partnerships and PaybackAsked what marketers should measure “beyond clicks”, Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance, argued that traditional performance metrics are no longer sufficient.“For us, KPIs are, first, reputation,” he said. “We know reputation is very hard to build but very easy to kill. It’s not just how many clicks you get, how many impressions you get, but what the sentiment in the market is about your organisation or your product.”The second pillar, he added, is strategic partnerships. “Fintechs are partnering with other fintechs; they’re partnering with banks,” he said. “We need to be better at measuring the impact and the return on investment on partnerships.”Other speakers agreed that narrow metrics no longer capture true performance. Benton noted that rigid CPA targets can limit growth. “Some of the most important channels in the funnel are the hardest to measure,” she said. “If you only reward last-click conversion, you underinvest in the activity that creates demand in the first place.” Platforms are experiencing the same shift. Paderni said advertisers on X are moving away from pure CPA and towards longer-horizon metrics: “More partners are now looking at lifetime value and brand lift. They want to know how activity influences the whole journey, not just the final click.” Measuring those effects remains difficult, particularly given the long time horizons and reputational risks if a partner runs into trouble. But Napolitano believes AI will eventually help firms quantify partnership value more precisely.Affiliates, Ambassadors and Broken AttributionAI is also complicating longstanding acquisition models, not least in affiliates.“With so many touchpoints today, if I’m an affiliate, it’s not fair that I do all the marketing and you want to pay me CPA,” Levitan argued. “They might go to the AI. They might convert on a different device. There’s no more tracking… The good affiliates will work with the brands that pay them upfront or pay them for the real work.”He predicted more publishers and comparison sites would favour hybrid or fixed-fee arrangements, while brands that cling to last-click, CPA-only models will “create a void” that better-funded competitors can fill.Paderni, by contrast, highlighted X’s “affiliate programmes” as a way to turn customers into brand ambassadors rather than simple lead sources. Companies can assign badges to clients or employees, making their posts visibly associated with the brand. He cited eToro’s use of badges for “popular investors” as an example of “branding the content of their own clients to increase visibility and message”.The broader point, echoed by several speakers, was that marketers should think less about buying clicks and more about mobilising their customer base as advocates – with or without financial incentives.Looking Ahead: New Marketing EnvironmentFor marketers, the immediate challenge is balancing AI’s advantages with its risks: discovery bottlenecks, content dilution and trust erosion.AI may accelerate workflows and reshape acquisition paths, but it cannot replace the human judgement that underpins financial decision-making. The panel returned repeatedly to that tension.“We’ve lost sight that we’re actually selling to human beings,” Benton reflected — a reminder that trust, clarity and authenticity still determine whether a customer engages or walks away. Firms that rebuild around those principles will remain visible in an AI-driven ecosystem; those that don’t may simply disappear from it. This article was written by Tanya Chepkova at www.financemagnates.com.

At the Finance Magnates London Summit 2025, a panel titled “How Neo Banks Go Wealth” explored the role of digital challengers in wealth management. The discussion highlighted how Europe’s £30 trillion wealth market is shifting from traditional advice to digital platforms, creating opportunities for neo banks to expand their presence in savings, investment, and asset management.The session was moderated by Andy Russell, CEO of Project Arnaud at 11:FS, and featured Mushegh Tovmasyan, Chairman of Zenus Bank; Stefan Lucas, Founding CEO of FinTech Armenia; and Rachel Przybylski, Chief Product Officer at SIGMA AI. The panel examined how neo banks, fintech hubs, and AI-driven platforms are reshaping the industry.Market OpportunityThe moderator framed the opportunity in stark terms: Europe’s wealth market is expanding at roughly five percent annually, while the gap widens between digitally engaged younger investors and high-net-worth clients relying on traditional advice. At the same time, a significant intergenerational transfer of assets is underway, prompting the industry to rethink how wealth is delivered. Neo banks view this transition as a natural extension of their existing payments business.Neo Banks as Infrastructure Front-EndsTovmasyan described neo banks as the “front end of financial services,” built on infrastructure that quietly manages payments, custody, and investment behind the scenes. “Stablecoins and crypto are a big trend, especially under the new US administration,” he said, pointing to faster cross-border settlement, decentralised finance, and new yield models as drivers of change. Zenus, he added, now powers money movement for digital brands that want to add wealth without building full banking stacks themselves.Strategic Expansion and GrowthFrom a market strategy perspective, Lucas said the push into wealth is driven by both regulatory and strategic considerations, with firms increasingly focused on profit growth and the accumulation of assets under management. He pointed to forecasts that place the neo banking market at about two trillion dollars by the end of the decade, while wealth management represents a three-trillion-dollar opportunity with far larger projected AUM overall. By contrast, he said: “a CFD, spread-betting or forex broker—or a neo bank operating only in payments across a handful of countries—remains structurally limited in its growth.” Expanding into wealth, he added, reflects the broader convergence now under way, with “traditional banks going digital, digital banks moving into traditional markets,” and crypto wallets increasingly intersecting with both.Client Expectations and AIPrzybylski focused on client behaviour rather than balance sheets. Younger investors, she said, expect personalised, data-driven, and fast investment tools. “They want to make their own investment decisions and want the data to support that,” she told the audience. Firms with AI-native platforms, she added, will hold a structural advantage as competition accelerates.What is a “neobank”?Good question. ?It’s basically a fintech company that only offers services online. (No physical locations)Example: Revolut (and Chime, Mercury, SoFi)Revolut has a banking license for the EU and the UK, but the US will be a critical market for for… pic.twitter.com/mcBIHfVyIV— Noel Moldvai (@noelregrets) December 5, 2025Super-App CompetitionThe panel agreed that the industry is entering what Tovmasyan called a “super-app arms race,” as payments firms add investments, crypto platforms seek banking licences, and brokers move into payments. The strategic value, he argued, is shifting away from proprietary technology toward audience access and speed to market.Yet the fragmentation of today’s wealth landscape may not last. Russell warned that while entry-level investing has already become an add-on feature across apps, deeper disruption is likely to strike the private banking middle, where efficiency and consolidation pressures are rising.Regulatory LandscapeRegulation remains a moving target. Przybylski said most existing frameworks already cover much of today’s activity, but governance around artificial intelligence will be critical. Lucas pointed to a resurgence of regulatory sandboxes, including stablecoin trials under the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority and controlled fintech experimentation in Armenia.Crypto and Generational ChangeThe sharpest generational divide surfaced during questions on crypto and custody. Tovmasyan said some younger wealthy clients now reject paper contracts altogether. “They just connect a wallet and trade,” he said, adding that regulators are increasingly focused on controlling fiat on-ramps and off-ramps through KYC and AML. “Once funds are on-chain, control becomes much harder. The change is already here.”Long-Term OutlookDespite the risks, the panel’s long-term outlook was broadly optimistic. Neo banks, Lucas argued, already have trust, data, and scale among middle-aged users. As products mature and older assets gradually change hands, wealth could become their most significant frontier yet. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Revolut has offered former employees the chance to sell their shares back to the company at a price that implies a valuation of about $52.5 billion, roughly 30% below the $75 billion level set in its latest funding round completed in November. The offer prices the stock at $966.74 per share for alumni, according to correspondence sent to former staff. And seen by the Financial Times.Revolut’s Discounted Offer Follows $75 Billion RoundThe buyback for ex-employees comes shortly after Revolut’s latest secondary share sale, which was led by Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer and Fidelity and valued the fintech at $75 billion. That valuation puts the London-based group in the same range as UK high street banks such as Barclays and Lloyds, despite Revolut still operating without a full UK banking license.In the correspondence to former staff, Revolut said the alumni offer is 30% below the recent funding valuation but represents a 12% premium to the price available in a 2024 secondary sale. A person familiar with the program said some former employees stand to make substantial sums, potentially in the millions of dollars, depending on the size of their holdings.Company Cites Former Staff DemandRevolut said it expanded the buyback scheme this year in response to demand from ex-employees who wanted to sell part of their stakes. In a statement, the company said it had “received interest from a number of former employees looking to sell shares, so we extended the buyback program that we started earlier this year to facilitate this for those who wish to participate.”The company has presented the latest offer as a way to align liquidity options for current and former staff, even at a discount to the headline valuation attached to the November round. The moves follow a broader push to make Revolut’s employee equity more liquid as its private valuation has climbed sharply in the last 18 months.Banking License Uncertainty LingersDespite the lofty valuation, Revolut still operates under a restricted UK banking license in what regulators describe as a “mobilization phase.” During this period, deposits at its UK banking unit are capped at £50,000 in total, and the company is required to strengthen its risk controls and infrastructure before a full license is granted.Concerns around global risk management have weighed on regulatory approvals, noting that Revolut has been in the mobilization phase for longer than the typical 12 months. The extended process has added a note of caution for investors weighing the fintech’s growth trajectory against traditional banks with long-established regulatory track records.Alongside its banking ambitions, Revolut has been expanding in digital assets and capital markets. In November, the company secured approval from CySEC to offer crypto services across 30 EU markets, giving it potential access to as many as 450 million Europeans for products that include staking and stablecoin features, according to Finance Magnates. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ: HOOD) will acquire two Indonesian financial firms - Buana Capital Sekuritas and Pedagang Aset Kripto - as the trading app targets one of Asia's hottest cryptocurrency markets.The company announced the deal yesterday (Sunday), marking its first major move into Southeast Asia. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but the transaction is expected to close sometime in the first half of next year.Robinhood Acquires Indonesian Brokerage, Crypto Firms in Southeast Asia PushIndonesia has become one of the world's largest crypto adoption markets, with roughly 17 million cryptocurrency traders and 19 million capital market investors. The country's young, tech-savvy population and favorable regulations have made it attractive for U.S. financial firms looking to grow outside their home markets."Indonesia represents a fast-growing market for trading, making it an exciting place to further Robinhood's mission to democratize finance for all," Patrick Chan, Head of Asia at Robinhood, said.In recent months, many retail trading firms have turned their attention to the region. Toward the end of last year, Doo Financial received a license there, followed shortly by XTB. Both companies aimed not only to access a large local market, but also to gain entry to clients in neighboring countries across the region.Two Acquisitions Speed Market EntryBuying an existing brokerage helps companies meet local regulatory requirements faster than building operations from scratch. The crypto trader acquisition gives Robinhood immediate access to Indonesia's digital asset infrastructure.Pieter Tanuri, who owns the majority stake in both Indonesian firms, will stay on as a strategic adviser after the deal closes.The move comes as Robinhood looks beyond its core U.S. market, where it built a massive following by eliminating trading commissions and simplifying stock investing through a mobile app. Product ExpansionTo achieve this,Robinhood has been expanding its product lineup aggressively this year. The company joined the S&P 500 index in September and launched prediction markets in March. Last month, it acquired MIAXdx to reduce dependence on third-party providers like Kalshi for event-based trading contracts.The platform has also been pushing tokenization of traditional securities. CEO Vlad Tenev described it as "the biggest innovation in capital markets" in more than ten years, outlining plans to let users use tokenized stocks as collateral for crypto loans.Robinhood shares have climbed 268% this year through December 5, far outpacing the broader market. The stock went public in New York in 2021.However, XTB's CEO Omar Arnaout said he expects Robinhood will struggle to replicate its U.S. success in Europe. The Poland-based platform executive called XTB the continent's answer to the American brokerage and questioned whether Robinhood's model would work across fragmented European markets. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.

Trading and investing platform eToro has rolled out its stock lending programme in the UK, allowing eligible users to earn passive income by lending out fully paid stocks. The programme follows earlier rollouts in Europe and the UAE and forms part of eToro’s plan to expand stock lending access to retail investors globally.The initiative, announced in April, expands eToro’s partnership with BNY, which acts as custodian and clearing provider, while stock lending platform EquiLend identifies borrowers and facilitates the lending process. UK Retail Investors Gain Stock LendingeToro said it is bringing a practice long dominated by large financial institutions to UK retail investors. “Launching stock lending in the UK is a key step in our mission to make passive income opportunities available to every investor,” said Yossi Brandes, VP Execution Services at eToro.The programme also expands eToro’s clearing and custody relationship with BNY, which provides the infrastructure for its fully funded stock and ETF offering across 19 global exchanges. Victor O’Laughlen, Executive Platform Owner – Global Clearing at BNY, said the collaboration combines the capabilities of eToro and EquiLend with BNY’s clearing services to “equip retail investors with an institutional-grade solution to support their investing journey.”BNY, Canada Bank Launch EquiLend PlatformBNY and the National Bank of Canada have gone live with EquiLend’s 1Source platform, a blockchain-based system that reduces manual reconciliation in securities lending by maintaining synchronized transaction records and automating lifecycle events such as recalls and rate adjustments. The platform currently covers North American equities, with plans to expand to corporate bonds and European markets. eToro has used EquiLend for six months to support its UK and European stock lending programme. The system could save the industry hundreds of millions annually through improved efficiency and fewer settlement failures. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Revolut Business has opened a waitlist for a new corporate card set to launch in the UK early next year. The Visa-powered product targets companies with international operations by combining spend management tools with travel, data and subscription benefits.Product Launch and PricingAccording to the fintech giant, Titan will launch for Revolut Business customers in the UK at a price of £65 plus VAT per user per month. The announcement follows Revolut Business surpassing 1 billion dollars in annualized revenue earlier this year.The Titan countdown begins. Our most exclusive and rewarding card yet. Get early access — the Titan waitlist is now open in the UK: https://t.co/2i53U3w51J pic.twitter.com/ANfO8IN5dI— Revolut Business (@RevolutBusiness) December 4, 2025Titan runs on the existing Revolut Business platform and adds integrated expense tools. Features reportedly include real-time expense tracking, automated receipt matching and support for simpler reconciliation to reduce manual administrative work for finance teams.The card includes unlimited complimentary access to airport lounges for cardholders. It also offers travel insurance that covers delays and lost luggage, and provides a monthly 10 GB global data allowance usable in more than 190 countries.Titan gives access to business-focused subscriptions worth up to £4,000 annually per user. Named partners include WeWork, Perplexity, Masterclass, NordVPN and Headway.Eligible Revolut Business customers on the Titan waitlist will receive 10,000 bonus RevPoints for every team member who joins Titan within 30 days of launch and stays enrolled for at least 14 days. Customers on the waitlist will receive advance notice before the card becomes available.Regulators Delay Full Banking License ApprovalLast year, Revolut partnered with Visa to enable instant card transfers for its business customers through the Visa Direct system. The collaboration sought to speed up cross-border transactions by removing delays and administrative hurdles tied to international payments.It involved the integration of Visa Direct into Revolut’s business platform to allow companies to send funds to more than 78 countries in under 30 minutes. The service supports over 50 currencies.Despite making inroads in the card payment space, the fintech giant’s ambitions in the banking space remain on hold. UK regulators recently delayed Revolut’s full banking license approval due to concerns over its risk controls linked to rapid international expansion. The Prudential Regulation Authority granted the fintech a restricted license last year following a three-year wait, allowing it to hold up to £50,000 in total customer deposits under a “mobilisation” phase that typically lasts 12 months. Revolut has remained in this phase for 14 months now. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Hedva Ber, eToro’s Global Chief Operations Officer and Deputy CEO, has filed to sell 94,000 shares of eToro Group. The shares are valued at approximately $3.95 million at current market prices. The filing was submitted today (Tuesday).eToro Insider Plans Multi-Million Stock SaleThe shares were acquired through eToro’s employee stock option plans. Sixteen thousand shares were acquired in January 2021, and 78,000 shares in July 2023. Payment for the exercised options was made in cash yestereday.The sale was reported via a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filings indicate an intent to sell rather than a completed transaction. Sales must comply with SEC rules regarding volume, timing, and manner of sale. Such filings are routine for company insiders, but they provide the market with insight into planned stock movements.Ber has been with eToro for over five years, according to her LinkedIn profile. She initially joined as a part-time consultant for a few months before taking on the role of Global COO and Deputy CEO, which she has held for nearly five years. She also held part-time roles outside eToro, serving on the advisory board for Wix Payments for over a year and as a board member at Mimun Yashir for about seven months.Plus500 COO Purchases Over £1 Million SharesInsider transactions continue across the sector. Alon Cohen Naznin, Group COO of Plus500, purchased over £1 million worth of the broker’s shares in a single transaction yesterday. Naznin has been with Plus500 for almost a decade and has held the COO role for more than five years. The shares have gained about 31 per cent since the start of the year and doubled over the past five years.Company Reports $215 Million Third‑Quarter ContributionThe last recorded trade for eToro shares yesterday was at US$41.88, a slight decline of 0.16 percent from the previous close. This reflects the most recent transaction during trading and does not necessarily indicate broader market trends. Pre‑market and after‑hours activity may differ due to lower liquidity and wider bid‑ask spreads, so actual trading prices in the regular session could vary. The company recently reported third‑quarter results, with a net contribution of $215 million, up 28 percent year‑on‑year, and announced a $150 million share buyback program. This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.

Wise has secured conditional approval from the South African Reserve Bank to operate in the country, marking the company’s first regulatory license in Africa. The UK-listed fintech can now offer personal money transfers in South Africa, joining a market where demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments is growing.Global fintech firm Wise has secured conditional approval from the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). The licence allows Wise to operate as a Category 2 Authorised Dealer in Foreign Exchange with Limited Authority.Click the link in our bio for more information. Read more:… pic.twitter.com/3xnPCfgyul— Business Tech Africa (@BusinessTech_SA) December 1, 2025Regulatory Nod Gives Wise First African FootprintCommenting about the expansion, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says: “Wise’s expansion into South Africa not only strengthens ties with one of Africa’s most dynamic economies but also showcases British excellence in building solutions that make life better for people and business worldwide, both at home and abroad.“This is yet another example of a thriving UK business expanding internationally, that success is good for British jobs, good for growth and good for business.”The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) approved Wise as a Category 2 Authorized Dealer in Foreign Exchange with Limited Authority (ADLA). The license allows the firm to provide cross-border payment services once final conditions are met.South Africa, the continent’s largest economy, handles significant international money flows, driven by a large diaspora and growing digital adoption. Wise’s entry aims to reduce fees, increase speed, and improve transparency compared to traditional providers.Wise Expands GloballyThe latest authorization adds to Wise’s growing global presence, which now includes more than 70 regulatory approvals worldwide. The company recently received in-principle approval to operate in India as a payment aggregator, obtained a retail payments license in the UAE, and became the first non-bank to go live on Japan’s Zengin payment network.Last month, Wise reported £658 million in revenue for the first half of 2025, up 11% year on year. Its pre-tax profit, however, declined 13% to £254.6 million. The company has reportedly been exploring the possibility of applying for a banking license in the United Kingdom. The Times recently reported that the company has contacted senior figures in the financial sector in recent months about roles related to a potential banking operation.If granted a license, Wise would join Revolut, which received a UK banking license from the Prudential Regulation Authority last year. Revolut’s license included restrictions, enabling the London-based firm to gradually build its banking operations ahead of a full-scale launch. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.

Robinhood shares (NASDAQ: HOOD) climbed more than 10% yesterday (Wednesday) after the retail brokerage announced plans to launch its own futures and derivatives exchange. The move signals a deepening push into prediction markets, which has become the company's fastest-growing revenue source.Until now, the fintech had been expanding its offering through Kalshi, generating more than 50 percent of the platform’s trading volume. By launching its own exchange, Robinhood can list contracts directly instead of relying solely on distributing Kalshi’s products.Robinhood Shares Jump 11% on Derivatives Exchange DealThe brokerage is partnering with Susquehanna International Group to acquire a 90% stake in MIAXdx, a derivatives platform previously known as LedgerX. Miami International Holdings, which currently owns the exchange, will retain a 10% interest in the venture. Robinhood will control the new entity, while Susquehanna provides liquidity on day one.The stock closed at $128.20, up nearly 11%, making it the top performer in the S&P 500 on Wednesday. Shares have climbed 215% this year, the second-best showing in the index.Robinhood’s shares appear to be consolidating near the all-time highs tested in early October, around 154 dollars. A move back above the 50-day EMA could give the company room to retest those levels.Users Bet on Everything From NFL Games to Fed DecisionsRobinhood launched prediction market contracts in March through a partnership with Kalshi, just ahead of the NCAA basketball tournament. Users can now wager on outcomes ranging from sports results to Federal Reserve interest rate moves.More than 9 billion contracts have traded on the platform since launch, with over 1 million customers participating. The company reported 2.3 billion event contracts traded in the third quarter alone, more than double the volume in the previous quarter.“Robinhood is seeing strong customer demand for prediction markets, and we're excited to build on that momentum,” said JB Mackenzie, the company's general manager for futures and international.Street Sees Revenue Windfall From Betting BoomBernstein analysts estimate Robinhood's prediction market business is on track to generate over $300 million in annualized revenue. The firm maintains a Buy rating with a $160 price target, the highest on Wall Street.“With HOOD already accounting for more than 50% of Kalshi market volumes, we believe HOOD wants to leverage its distribution edge to claim a higher share of the market revenue pool,” Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani wrote on Wednesday.The new exchange will allow Robinhood to list and clear contracts directly rather than rely solely on its Kalshi partnership. Analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald noted that the CFTC licenses acquired through MIAXdx will also allow the company to offer traditional futures and options products.Rivals Race to Capture Growing MarketThe move comes as prediction markets attract surging interest from both crypto and fintech firms. Kalshi logged $4.47 billion in trading volume over the past month, while rival Polymarket reported $3.58 billion.Crypto.com recently launched its own prediction market and plans to integrate Trump Media, while Gemini has filed for regulatory approval to open a similar marketplace. Reports suggest that Coinbase is also exploring an entry into the space.The exchange is expected to begin operations in 2026 following completion of the MIAXdx acquisition. Robinhood plans to make the platform available to other brokerage firms, not just its own customers. This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.