Anthropic, the company behind the range of large language models (LLMs) named Claude, has released ten ready-to-run agent templates for the financial services industry, the company said earlier this month. These templates aim to allow firms to deploy sophisticated AI tools in an easy and swift manner, bringing automation to some of the most time-consumer work in the space. These agent templates, which cover tasks like building pitchbooks, screening know-your-customer (KYC) files, and closing the books at month-end, comprise: The “Pitch Builder”, which creates target lists, runs comparables, and drafts pitchbooks for client meetings; The “Meeting Preparer”, which assembles client and counterparty briefs ahead of calls; The “Earnings Reviewer”, which reads transcripts and filings, updates models, and flags thesis-relevant changes; The “Model Builder”, which creates and maintains financial models from filings, data feeds, and analyst inputs; The “Market Researcher”, which tracks sector and issuer developments, synthesizes news, filings, and broker research, and flags items for credit and risk review; The “Valuation Reviewer”, which checks valuations against comparables, methodology, and the firm’s review standards; The “General Ledger”, which reconciler reconciles general ledger accounts and runs net asset value calculations against the books of record; The “Month-End Closer”, which runs the close checklist, prepares journal entries, and produces close reports; The “Statement Auditor”, which reviews financial statements for consistency, completeness, and audit-readiness; and The “KYC Screener”, which assembles entity files, reviews source documents, and packages escalations for compliance review. Each of these templates is a reference architecture that packages three elements: skills (instructions and domain knowledge for the task), connectors (governed access to the data the task runs on), and subagents (additional Claude models that are called upon by the main agent, for specific sub-tasks). Firms can adapt any of these templates to their own modeling conventions, risk policies, and approval flows. The agent templates ship as a plugin in Claude Cowork and Claude Code, and as a cookbook for Claude Managed Agents. They can be deployed for real financial world in just days rather than months, drastically reducing time-to-market and offering agility. As a plugin in Claude Cowork or Claude Code, the template runs alongside the analyst, using the software already on the user’s local computer. In this setup, the user provides a specific target and the system generates individual outputs. As a Claude Managed Agent, the template runs autonomously on the cloud-based Claude Platform rather than on a local desktop. This version is designed for large-scale operations, and comes equipped with enterprise-grade infrastructure, including long-running sessions, per-tool permissions, managed credential vaults, and a full audit log in the Claude Console. Claude’s integration with Microsoft 365 In addition to these new agent templates, Anthropic also announced that Claude now works across Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook through the Claude add-ins for Microsoft 365. In Outlook, the AI assistant can act as a chief of staff that triages inboxes, arranges meetings, and drafts responses. In Excel, it can build financial models from filings and data feeds, audit formulas, and run sensitivity analyses. In PowerPoint, it can draft decks that update automatically when the underlying numbers change, and in Word, it can edit credit memos against a firm’s own templates. For financial services professionals, the appeal lies in the ability to execute complex, multi-step workflows across the entire Microsoft Office ecosystem without leaving their native environment. This significantly automates routine administrative tasks, reduces manual data transfer errors, and accelerates turnaround times for time-sensitive market decisions. Broadening the ecosystem for financial services Finally, Anthropic said it was working on expanding its partner ecosystem, building connections to many different financial data sources to improve its ability to help with financial analysis and research. Claude is already connected to dozens of market data providers, research platforms, and financial companies’ internal systems, including established names like FactSet, S&P Capital IQ, MSCI, PitchBook, Morningstar, LSEG, and Daloopa, as well as organizations’ own data warehouses, research repositories, and customer relationship management systems. The platform is now adding new partners to its network, providing direct, real-time access to market and research data. These partners include: Dun & Bradstreet, which provides the global standard for verified business identity and helps enterprises connect systems of record and scale AI-enabled workflows; Fiscal AI, which extends real-time fundamentals coverage across public equities for deeper research and benchmarking; Financial Modeling Prep, which provides real-time quotes, fundamentals, statements, filings, and transcripts across equities, ETFs, crypto, forex, and commodities; Guidepoint, which searches more than 100,000 compliance-reviewed expert interview transcripts and provides verbatim excerpts linked to source; IBISWorld, which tracks industry-level revenue, financial ratios, risk scores, cost structures, and forecasts across thousands of sectors; SS&C Intralinks, which gives Claude access to DealCenter AI data rooms for document search, diligence Q&A, and deal-activity tracking; Third Bridge, which gives Claude access to primary-source expert interviews on companies, sectors, and value chains; and Verisk, which provides property, casualty, and specialty insurance data for underwriting, claims, and risk analysis. How the industry is using Claude Claude is already used by a number of banks, asset managers, and insurers to support various tasks across front, middle, and back offices. For example, FIS, a fintech company serving financial institutions, businesses and developers, is using Claude to build an agent that compresses AML investigations from days to minutes. Carlyle, an investment management firm, uses Claude as part of its AI technology stack, leveraging the system’s strong coding capabilities, and agentic reasoning, in particular. Finally, Citadel, a major hedge fund and financial services company, uses Claude to build and update coverage models, filter out noise to find key signals, and pressure-test investment professionals’ work, all with a step-change in efficiency. AI adoption in the financial services industry The release of Anthropic’s agent templates for the financial services industry comes as professionals in the sector are embracing AI rapidly. A new study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at Cambridge Judge Business School, found that AI adoption has evolved into a mainstream standard, with 81% of industry players now adopting AI at some level and 40% reporting advanced AI adoption, including “Scaling” or “Transforming”. While adoption of agentic AI remains nascent, it is growing rapidly. According to a 2025 study by Wolters Kluwer, only 6% of finance leaders were employing agentic AI. However, 38% intended to adopt agentic AI in the next 12 months. With 44% of finance teams set to be using agentic AI in 2026, this represents an increase of over 600%. For financial services firms, AI is already generating measurable improvements. The CCAF study found the strongest gains in technology, data, and product functions, where 79% of respondents reported positive outcomes. Back office and operations followed closely at 75% overall.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by vector_corp via Magnific The post Anthropic Targets Financial Services with New Claude AI Agent Templates and Integrations appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

This year, the presence of finance institutions in the Formula One (F1) sponsorship landscape has grown significantly, and matured. According to new research by fintech branding agency Fintech Branding Studio, the ecosystem now comprises 34 financing-related companies this year, up from about 20 companies in 2025. Though crypto partnerships remain part of the landscape, institutional banking, payment networks, trading platforms, and digital banks are increasing their footprint and driving the strongest growth, with new entrants that include Revolut, Nu, eToro, and Barclays. In 2026, finance companies represented 74% of all finance and crypto sponsors across F1 teams, overshadowing crypto’s 26% share. Within this dominant category, institutional banking, and trading and investing held the largest shares at 24% each, followed by payments at 15%, and digital banking at 6%. Distribution of finance and crypto sponsors across F1 teams in 2026, Source: Fintech Branding Studio, Mar 2026 This trend indicates a surge in interest from institutional finance, digital banking, and diversified fintech platforms, and underscores how the F1 sponsorship model has evolved to become a strategic arena for reputation, scale and global market expansion. Among the 11 F1 teams competing in 2026, the following stand out for their deep integration of finance and crypto brands. McLaren Mastercard F1 Team McLaren, which secured the 2025 Constructors’ Champion with the highest combined driver points, now carries one of the most visible finance partnerships. The team’s financial portfolio includes Mastercard as the naming partner, alongside crypto exchange OKX as a principal partner, and business fintech platform Airwallex and trading platform FxPro as official partners. Mastercard announced its naming partnership with McLaren in 2025, expanding a collaboration that began in 2024 when the brand joined as a primary partner alongside OKX and Google. This expanded collaboration aims to unlock new opportunities for fans to enjoy exclusive, behind-the-scenes access and one-of-a-kind experiences, the company said. In December 2025, it launched Team Priceless, offering passionate supporters unprecedented insights and curated local experiences through the lens of the McLaren F1 racing team. McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, Source: Mastercard Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team This year, Mercedes maintains a financial portfolio centered on institutional credibility across capital markets and banking infrastructure, with official partners that include UBS, Nasdaq, and Nu. Nu is a new addition in the F1 grid, having signed in January a multi-year global partnership with Mercedes. The company said the partnership will deliver a range of on-track and off-track branding and audience engagement designed to create memorable experiences for fans, and showcase bold moments. This move coincides with Nu’s naming rights partnerships with Inter Miami CF and Nu Stadium, also announced this year as the digital bank accelerate its international expansion, particularly in the US. Club International de Fútbol Miami, known as Inter Miami CF, is a professional soccer club rooted in South Florida led by eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Leo Messi. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Source: Mercedes Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Racing Bulls remains the clearest example of fintech-led team identity within F1. Visa and digital wallet Cash App continue to anchor the team’s naming structure, with Visa renewing and expanding this year its sponsorship of the two Red Bull F1 teams until 2030. The multi-year deal will see Visa continue as the title partner of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and support the team’s F1 Academy program, an initiative which nurtures young female drivers. Meanwhile, the expanded partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing will ensure that Visa brands remain on the front wing of this year’s car and broader placements across suits, halo, and team assets. Visa has also secured exclusive rights within the retail banking category alongside expanded pass-through rights. The extension also introduces new branding rights, enhanced hospitality assets and experiential opportunities across both teams. Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, Source: Red Bull Audi Revolut F1 Team This year, German car manufacturer Audi will be entering F1 following its takeover of Sauber. The newly rebranded team is launching with Revolut as its title sponsor, a multi-year deal signed in July 2025. The common goal of this partnership is to establish new ways for fans to interact with the sport during race weekends, with unique experiences for motorsport enthusiasts and exclusive benefits for Revolut customers. As part of the agreement, Revolut Business will be extensively integrated into the team’s financial operations, enabling seamless checkout solutions for team merchandise, and ensuring a premium and intuitive retail experience. Another sponsor of the Audi Revolut F1 Team is Nexo, a digital asset platform and the team’s official digital assets partner. Over the course of the partnership, Nexo will activate globally through premium experiences and digital-first engagement, offering exclusive access, co-created content and education, and next-generation immersive brand experiences. Audi Revolut F1 Team, Source: Audi Oracle Red Bull Racing Red Bull continues to boast one of the most diversified financial portfolios in F1, spanning payments, trading platforms, investment firms and digital assets. The team’s 2026 principal partners include Dubai-based crypto exchange Bybit, and official partners Visa, online brokerage firm AvaTrade, global investment firm Carlyle, and crypto exchange Gate.io. Oracle Red Bull Racing, Source: Oracle Technology and finance brands have been among the largest investors in F1, each accounting for around 20% of all new sponsorship deals in 2025, according to research by BitOK, an anti-money laundering (AML) solution provider for the crypto industry. Crypto and fintech sponsorships in particular reached record level in 2025, totaling US$273.6 million across 21 partners. F1 sponsorship is appealing to finance companies because of the sport’s global reach, elite branding, and a highly desirable audience. But more importantly, the audience skews toward high-income, international, and business-oriented consumers, aligning closely with financial products like investing platforms, credit services, private banking, and cross-border payments.   Featured image by jamesteoh1976 on Magnific The post Digital Banks Increase Presence in F1 Sponsorship appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Technology is reshaping the financial system, driving a shift towards an “always on” 24/7 market infrastructure and real-time transactions. This evolution is transforming money into a more digital, programmable, and perpetually active asset class. Addressing this shift, Deutsche Bank has produced a new whitepaper on the digital money landscape. This paper addresses the three main types of digital money that are experiencing increased uptake, namely stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), exploring the regulatory and market forces shaping them, and how these changes are impacting the industry. The money landscape, Source: Digital Money – a perspective on stablecoins, tokenised deposits, and CBDCs, Deutsche Bank, May 2026 Stablecoins Stablecoins are blockchain-based tokens issued by banks, corporates or fintech startups, typically backed one-for-one by a fiat currency. They are designed to maintain price stability by holding collateral reserves to support their value, with transparency achieved through regular disclosure of these reserves. Driven by the implementation of comprehensive regulatory frameworks for stablecoin issuance and transfers across key global regions, in particular the European Union (EU) and the US, stablecoins have generated significant interest from the payments industry, and now represent one of the most advanced forms of digital private money. In 2025, overall stablecoin transaction volume was estimated at US$62 trillion, according to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). While real-economy payments still accounted for only a small share of activity at about 7% in 2025, they grew rapidly at about 55% year-over-year (YoY), with the strongest expansion in business-to-business (B2B) transactions. Real economy payments using stablecoins in 2025, Source: Boston Consulting Group, Jan 2026 Tokenized deposits Another prominent type of digital money is tokenized deposits. These have emerged as a promising model for enabling programmable bank money across payments, treasury operations and wholesale settlement. Currently, tokenized deposit platforms are most commonly used to transfer liquidity between accounts held across different branches within the same financial institution. In these setups, banks operate proprietary blockchain networks that enable 24/7 settlement across branches by representing deposits from corporate clients or other banks as tokens on an internal ledger. Another model involves industry collaborations that provide shared ledger infrastructure across multiple institutions. These platforms aim to enable coordinated movement of tokenized deposits across banks while preserving the governance and controls expected in regulated financial networks. Notable examples include: Partior, which supports real-time cross-border settlement of tokenized deposits, utilizing pre-validation and atomic settlement to reduce breaks and investigations; and Project Agora, by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in collaboration with seven central banks and a large group of private sector companies under the Institute of International Finance (IFF), which is designing a unified ledger where tokenized deposits interoperate with wholesale CBDC for policy aware, atomic cross-border settlement. As a form of private digital money, tokenized deposits are often viewed as a payment instrument competitive against stablecoins, promising many of the purported efficiency gains that stablecoins can provide for payments, including increased speed, transparency, and potentially lower costs. However, they face challenges surrounding interoperability and integration with existing banking systems. To date, most tokenized deposit implementations have relied on private, permissioned blockchains accessible only to issuing banks or authorized institutions. This means that tokenized deposits can only be held by clients of an issuing bank. In contrast, stablecoins can be held practically by anyone who has a wallet that can hold the stablecoins, including users without a direct relationship with the stablecoin issuer. CBDCs Finally, the final pillar highlighted in the whitepaper is CBDCs. CBDCs are digital forms are central bank-issued money that can designed either for use by the general public as a retail CBDC, or for use between financial institutions as a wholesale CBDC. Retail CBDCs aim to act as a digital complement to cash, providing access to central bank money in electronic form for everyday payments. China offers the most advanced large-scale example of a retail CBDC with the e-CNY ecosystem. In September 2025, e-CNY reached cumulative transaction volumes of CNY 14 trillion (US$2 trillion), an expansion that had been supported by an established network of hardware wallets, enhanced offline payment capabilities, and ongoing cross-border pilot initiatives. In the EU, the European Central Bank is advancing its initiative to introduce a digital euro, aimed at complementing physical cash and facilitate a broad range of payment activities including point-of-sale (POS), e-commerce and peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. Subject to legislative approval, pilot testing of the digital euro could begin as early as H2 2027, with a potential launch in 2029. In contrast to retail CBDCs, wholesale CBDCs are designed for use between institutions, enabling the settlement of interbank payments and securities transactions. These models are gaining traction as central banks focus on modernizing financial market infrastructure and enhancing the efficiency of interbank settlement. In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore are actively advancing wholesale CBDC initiatives and cross-border experiments. Hong Kong is focused on developing settlement infrastructure for tokenized deposits, while Singapore is conducting broader distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based settlement trials for capital markets. Singapore has also established partnerships with multiple central banks, including France and Switzerland, to test the cross-border trading and settlement of wholesale CBDCs between financial institutions.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik via Magnific The post Deutsche Bank Study: Stablecoins, Tokenized Deposits, CBDCs: The New Forms of Money appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Blockchain analytics company Elliptic has secured US$120 million in a Series D funding round to scale its compliance platform as traditional financial institutions increase their exposure to digital assets. Growth equity firm One Peak led the round, with participation from Nasdaq Ventures, Deutsche Bank, and the British Business Bank. The investment brings the company’s valuation to $670 million. Elliptic will use the new capital to expand its enterprise-grade analytics tools for banks, government agencies, and cryptocurrency platforms. The funding arrives as regulated institutions begin transacting more frequently on digital asset networks, deepening their integration with tokenised assets. Stablecoins processed US$33 trillion in transaction volume in 2025. This rising volume has turned real-time crypto compliance monitoring into an operational necessity for exchanges and payment firms. Sabih Behzad “The sustainable growth of digital assets depends on strong, institutional-grade risk and compliance foundations,” said Sabih Behzad, Global Head of Digital Assets and Currencies Transformation at Deutsche Bank. “Our investment in Elliptic reflects our focus on strengthening these foundations,” Behzad added. Deutsche Bank has been actively building its digital asset capabilities, including a partnership with Swiss fintech Taurus to establish digital asset custody. Elliptic screens over one billion transactions weekly across more than 65 blockchains. The company says two-thirds of global crypto trading volume is transacted on exchanges that already use its systems. In 2025, the company launched an AI system designed to automate compliance investigations and reduce costs. The architecture relies on a proprietary dataset built over 13 years of continuous entity labelling. Simone Maini “Financial systems are being rebuilt on-chain,” said Simone Maini, CEO of Elliptic. “The institutions leading that transition need an analytics partner that matches their scale, their sophistication, and their ambition.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Markus Winkler via Unsplash The post Deutsche Bank Backs Elliptic in US$120M Round to Scale Crypto Compliance Tools appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Apollo announced that Apollo Funds is acquiring Emerald Holding and Questex in separate transactions and plans to combine them into a scaled North American B2B events and media platform valued at approximately US$1.5 billion for Emerald. The acquisition will see Emerald stockholders receive US$5.03 per share in cash. This offer represents a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price of the company. Emerald is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Onex holds over 90% of Emerald’s outstanding shares and has agreed to vote in favour of the buyout. The transaction will take Emerald private upon its expected completion in the second half of 2026. The combination of Emerald and Questex will create a consolidated portfolio of around 160 events. Apollo aims to capitalise on the demand for in-person industry gatherings. The investor views physical events as increasingly valuable in a digitally driven business environment. Shahid Bosan “As AI and digital tools rapidly expand the ways professionals connect and share information, they are simultaneously elevating the value of trusted in-person gatherings,” said Shahid Bosan, Managing Director, Apollo. The deal highlights growing institutional investor interest in consolidating the B2B media space.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Raisul via Magnific The post Apollo Funds to Acquire Emerald and Questex in $1.5B Deal to Create B2B Events Platform appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Swiss neobank neon and Hypothekarbank Lenzburg have extended their banking as a service (BaaS) partnership to develop new digital platform features. The renewed agreement will pave the way for the introduction of instant payments for neon customers in the coming weeks. The partnership dates back to 2018. Under the arrangement, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg and its IT subsidiary Finstar provide the underlying banking, technological, and regulatory infrastructure that allows neon to operate in Switzerland. The collaboration currently supports around 250,000 neon customers. At the end of 2025, Hypothekarbank Lenzburg managed 1.4 billion Swiss francs in deposits from the neobank’s users. Custody account volumes for the neon Invest wealth product stood at 445.3 million Swiss francs during the same period. Silvan Hilfiker “As a banking partner from the very beginning, we are pleased to continue supporting neon and thank them for the trust they place in us,” said Silvan Hilfiker, CEO of Hypothekarbank Lenzburg. Hilfiker added that the new agreement provides the bank with more security and greater options for managing its balance sheet, which has grown significantly due to its banking as a service operations. Jörg Sandrock “With the new agreement, we are consolidating the basis for further cooperation and ultimately creating the conditions for additional growth in the coming years,” said Jörg Sandrock, CEO of neon Switzerland. The companies plan to announce further innovations built on the Finstar platform in due course.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Achmad Khoeron via Magnific The post neon and Hypothekarbank Lenzburg Extend Partnership for Instant Payments Rollout appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Ripple has secured a US$200 million debt facility from Neuberger Specialty Finance to expand the lending capacity of its institutional prime brokerage platform, Ripple Prime, as demand for margin financing across traditional and digital asset markets continues to grow. The facility will support Ripple Prime’s ability to extend credit to institutional clients trading equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, and digital assets, with the firm able to draw up to the full US$200 million based on client demand. Since Ripple acquired the platform in 2025, Ripple Prime has recorded a threefold increase in revenue year over year, driven by rising institutional participation in digital markets and increased demand for scalable, multi-asset financing infrastructure. Noel Kimmel “Dependable access to financing and balance sheet strength are critical to institutional participants in today’s dynamic markets,” said Noel Kimmel, President of Ripple Prime. “This facility enables us to grow alongside our clients by delivering increased margin capacity, greater responsiveness, and improved capital efficiency.” He added that Neuberger Specialty Finance’s expertise in asset-based finance reflects strong alignment with Ripple Prime’s brokerage model and growth trajectory. The company structures the financing as an asset-based facility designed to scale alongside client activity across both traditional and digital markets. Proceeds will fund financing to institutional counterparties, further strengthening Ripple Prime’s role as a liquidity and credit provider in multi-asset trading environments. Peter Sterling “Ripple Prime has built an innovative brokerage platform combining fintech-grade technology and agility with bank-level compliance and operational rigor,” said Peter Sterling, Head of Neuberger Specialty Finance. “This facility reflects our focus on partnering with market-leading platforms operating at the intersection of traditional and emerging financial markets.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Raisul via Magnific The post Ripple Secures $200M Facility to Expand Institutional Prime Brokerage Lending Capacity appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Corpay is partnering with digital asset platform BVNK to provide its global customer base with a stablecoin wallet and settlement capabilities. The integration allows Corpay’s clients to view digital asset balances alongside traditional fiat accounts. Customers can use an embedded stablecoin wallet to send, receive, store, and convert stablecoins directly within the platform. This setup gives corporate users access to payment networks that operate outside standard banking hours. Corpay will also use stablecoin rails for its own treasury operations to reduce reliance on pre-funded accounts and improve capital efficiency across its global network. Corpay processes more than US$12 billion in corporate payments and $26 billion in foreign exchange monthly across over 145 currencies for 800,000 clients. Adding a stablecoin wallet expands its payment network to offer more options for domestic and cross-border transactions. Mark Frey “At our scale, the ability to move liquidity quickly and reliably is critical,” said Mark Frey, Group President of Corpay Cross-Border Solutions. He noted that stablecoins introduce a continuous settlement capability that strengthens the company’s existing infrastructure. Jesse Hemson Struthers “We believe stablecoins are reshaping the foundation of global payments,” said Jesse Hemson-Struthers, CEO of BVNK. “Corpay’s scale and reach make them an ideal partner to bring these capabilities into the mainstream.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by patcharaporn1984 via Magnific The post Corpay and BVNK Expand Corporate Payments with Stablecoin Wallet Integration appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Paymentology has raised US$175 million in a new funding round co-led by Apis Partners and pan-European private equity firm Aspirity Partners. The company will use the capital to support global expansion and product development. Paymentology plans to move beyond core issuer processing into adjacent areas, including credit, stablecoins, tokenisation, and AI services. Much of the global payments issuing layer remains constrained by legacy infrastructure, which can limit the speed and flexibility of launching new products. Paymentology addresses this through a configurable platform that allows issuers to manage card and digital payment experiences across multiple markets. Jeff Parker “By combining global capability with the flexibility to adapt locally, we enable our clients to compete more effectively with speed, control and efficiency, in an increasingly dynamic landscape,” said Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology. The funding follows a period of rapid expansion for the company. The firm reported a 117% year-on-year increase in new sales for the 2025 financial year, alongside a 65% rise in transaction volumes. The platform currently provides cloud-native processing for clients across 68 countries. Its customer base spans digital asset platforms, embedded finance providers, and established banks modernising their legacy systems, featuring companies such as M-Pesa, GoTyme, and Wio Bank.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by digitizesc via Magnific The post Paymentology Raises US$175M to Expand Platform and Explore AI, Tokenisation appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Money20/20 is coming back to Europe for its regional edition from June 02 to 04, 2026 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, promising three days of high-impact content, industry-shaping debates, and interactive sessions aimed at advancing financial services. This year’s event is expected to bring together more than 7,400 attendees with one in three holding C-suite roles, representing over 2,300 companies, from more than 100 countries represented. The 2026 Money20/20 Europe edition will feature over 450 speakers, six stages, and four powerful themes that capture the forces redefining global finance. These themes are: AI and the Agentic Age, where autonomous systems are rewriting how decisions are made; The Great Rebundling, mapping the rise of seamless, end‑to‑end financial experiences; Money Stack Rewired, spotlighting the stablecoin‑driven infrastructure reinventing how value moves; and Regulation in the Fast Lane, where rapid policy change is creating new competitive frontiers. Key sessions at Money20/20 Europe 2026 image credit: Money 20/20 Europe The conference will feature deep-dive discussions led by industry leaders. In “How Fintechs Are Rewriting the Business Banking Playbook”, Lucy Demery, SVP Head of Visa Commercial Solutions EU, and James Gibson, Head of Revolut Business, will explore how fintech startups and incumbents are reshaping commercial payments through consolidation, embedded finance, partnerships, and rapid innovation. The session will examine how expectations across corporates, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the wider ecosystem are being rewritten in real time as the lines between traditional and fintech‑led business banking continue to blur. “AI Takes the Wheel: The New Power Dynamic in Financial Decisions” with Maik Taro Wehmeyer, Co‑Founder and CEO, Taktile, and moderated by Rana Yared, General Partner, Balderton, will discuss how AI is shifting from simple features to systems that make real financial decisions. The session will dive into what it takes to scale agentic AI responsibly, from design and oversight to lessons from real deployments, while asking how leaders can move beyond pilots to deploy AI that truly improves decision making. In “The Geopolitics of Money: Building the Rails of the Future Digital Economy”, Sovan Shatpathy from Oracle, Ailish Campbell from Mastercard, Januš Kizenevič from the Ministry of Finance of Lithuania, and moderator Louise Beaumont from the Smart Data Council will examine how identity and payments are becoming core levers of modern power. The session will explore how governments and industry can work together to build resilient, interoperable digital rails that strengthen competitiveness and SME growth, while embedding trust, fraud prevention, and resilience by design. “Europe’s Institutional Crypto Advantage” with Simone Maini, CEO, Elliptic, and Michael Shaulov, CEO, Fireblocks, and moderated by Jay Wilson, Partner, AlbionVC, will discuss how Europe has entered a new phase in digital assets. The session will examine how regulation is accelerating institutional adoption, why institutions are shifting focus from hype to utility, and how advances in blockchain intelligence are reshaping compliance standards across the region. Finally, in “Trailblazers: The Real Stories Behind Reaching the C‑Suite”, Clare Pearson, Founder, Pearson Booth Consulting, Kate Marsden, CMO, Yaspa, and moderator Michelle Beyo, CEO, Finavator, will explore how the traditional career playbook has evolved. The session will go beyond titles to reveal the pivotal moments, bold bets, and mindset shifts required to lead at the frontier of finance, showing how today’s fintech leaders chart their own course in real time. New for 2026: the Intersection Stage New for 2026, the Intersection Stage will serve as the epicenter of one of the most important shifts in global finance: the convergence of traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). As traditional institutions and decentralized networks increasingly collide, this stage will bring together the leaders, builders, and policymakers defining a new financial paradigm where established banking meets blockchain innovation. Designed as the home of stablecoins, digital assets, tokenization, and next‑generation money movement, the Intersection Stage will feature standout voices from across the financial spectrum, including: Cassie Craddock, VP and Managing Director, UK and Europe, Ripple; Mark Jennings, CEO Europe, Gemini; Olugbenga Agboola, Founder and CEO, Flutterwave; Sarah Wynn‑Williams, Tech and Policy Expert and Author; Marguerite Bérard, CEO, ABN AMRO Bank NV; Kelly Devine, President, Europe, Mastercard; Simonas Krėpšta, Executive Board Member, EU Anti‑Money Laundering Authority; Arjun Sethi, Co‑CEO, Kraken; and Onur Genç, CEO, BBVA. These speakers will explore how innovation, regulation, and emerging infrastructure are reshaping digital assets, cybersecurity, and cross‑border payments. Other highlights Beyond the main conference, Money20/20 Europe 2026 will introduce the Orbital Stage for startup showcases, and MoneyLab workshops. The Orbital Stage will offer an immersive main stage experience designed to showcase the industry’s biggest ideas, boldest voices, and most impactful moments, while MoneyLab workshops will provide offer small-group workshops built for hands-on collaboration. Participants will get to exchange practical insights, tackle real challenges, and walk away with actionable tools they’ll get to put to work immediately. Another new addition this year will be Sm∆rtMeet, a curated meetings program designed to deliver high-value, pre-qualified introductions between solution providers and strategic buyers across Europe’s most dynamic fintech sectors. Additionally, the private Investor Lounge will offer a dedicated experience for the capital community, providing tailored access, curated opportunities, and a private space to meet founders, executives, and fellow investors. A redesigned show floor layout will also be implemented to optimize navigation, discovery, and maximize connection. The Startup Hub will return this year but larger than before, featuring an expanded stage, exhibition area, and more founders showcasing breakthrough ideas. Tailored to meet the needs of early-stage disruptors and growth-stage innovators, the Startup Hub is a platform for fintech startups to gain visibility, forge critical connections, and access the resources they need to scale. The platform offers key benefits including the VC Connect program for curated meetings with investors actively seeking opportunities in their space, access to exclusive workshops and content, and dedicated pod space. The Startup Pitch Competition is also coming back, with last year’s winner, Sinpex, returning with a stronger presence. The competition will offer participants the opportunity to showcase their solutions on a Money20/20 stage. Finally, the invite‑only Policy20 Summit on Day One will offer exclusive access to critical regulatory discussions. The summit will convene policymakers, central banks, regulators, and industry leaders to shape the frameworks that will define the future of fintech. A premier gathering for financial innovation Launched in 2012, Money20/20 is one of the world’s biggest and most prominent fintech event series. Running across the world in locations like Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Riyadh, and Bangkok, these annual events are attended by the industry’s leaders and largest banks, payments companies, VC firms, regulators, and media platforms who convene to cut industry‑shaping deals, build world‑changing partnerships, and unlock future‑defining opportunities. Last year’s Money20/20 Europe edition brought together thousands of attendees from over 2,200 companies, and showcased a lineup of 450 industry leading speakers from 40 countries. Financial regulators gathered at the exclusive Money20/20 Policy Exchange for closed-door discussions on cryptocurrency regulation, open finance data access frameworks, and cross-border policy, while several major announcements were launched live by the likes of Revolut, Klarna and Visa, Mastercard and Deutsche Bank, Enfuce and Shuttle, Kraken and Ivy, LSEG, NYSE and NomuPay.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Money20/20 The post Money20/20 Europe 2026: All You Need to Know appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Three Swiss startups tackling regulatory compliance, agricultural lending and settlement infrastructure have been named as business and finance finalists for the >>venture>> 2026 competition. The companies were selected from a record 451 applications in this year’s edition of the Swiss startup programme. The business and finance category highlights a shift toward deep business-to-business infrastructure and novel financing models. The 3 Business and Finance Finalists   RegCheck A platform spun out of ETH Zurich, uses AI to simulate regulatory audits. The system connects to corporate document management systems to identify compliance gaps before official submission, aiming to reduce the risk of failed audits.     UAC LABS Building a coordination infrastructure to enable atomic settlement across traditional and decentralised finance. The Zurich-based startup replaces traditional smart contract execution with cryptographic proofs, allowing institutions to orchestrate complex multiparty workflows without exposing capital to custody risks.     reilo. Turns natural assets into bankable collateral to help smallholder farmers access credit. The company is currently running pilot programmes in Tanzania and Brazil, securing agricultural loans against nature-based carbon values to bridge the financing gap for unbanked communities.   The finalists will present their pitches to the competition’s advisory board on June 15. The winner of the business and finance vertical will receive 50,000 Swiss francs and a consulting package from McKinsey and Company. The remaining two vertical finalists will each receive 10,000 Swiss francs. All category winners will then compete for the overall grand prize, which carries a total award of 150,000 Swiss francs. The event will also feature a live audience vote and the inaugural Spotlight Award, which will grant 50,000 Swiss francs to a startup using Switzerland’s new open-source language model Apertus.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Nadifa99 via Magnific The post >>venture>> Reveals 2026 Finance and Business Finalists appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

CB Insights has released its annual selection of the world’s most promising artificial intelligence (AI) startups, spotlighting the top emerging private AI companies based on market traction, investor quality, and talent. This year’s 100 ventures emphasize the AI industry’s emphasis on early growth and market validation. An analysis of the landscape reveals that Series A ventures are the most prominent group on the list, totaling 60 companies. These companies have moved beyond the prototype phase, and have proven that their products solve real problems. They are now focused on scaling customer acquisition, turning early traction into repeatable business models, and building sales and marketing teams. These companies include 7AI, DeepJudge, and StackOne. 7AI is a US-based company that deploys autonomous AI agent swarms, automating security alert processing, incident management, and threat hunting. Founded by former Cybereason CEO Lior Div and backed by Greylock Partners and Index Ventures, 7AI secured a US$130 million Series A in December 2025 just ten months after the company launched from stealth. It plans to use the proceeds to expand its AI security engineering and go-to-market teams. In 2025, its platform reportedly processed more than 2.5 million alerts and 650,000 investigations, cutting investigation times from hours to minutes and eliminating up to 95–99% of false positives in production. DeepJudge, from Switzerland, provides AI-powered knowledge search and document retrieval platforms connecting law firms’ document management systems to retrieval-augmented AI agents. Founded by former Google researchers with PhDs in AI from ETH Zurich, the company serves elite firms including Freshfields and Holland & Knight, achieving 80-90% active usage rates. DeepJudge secured a US$41.2 million Series A in November 2025 to deepen product innovation, expand its partner ecosystem, and scale internationally. StackOne, based in the UK, builds unified APIs and tool-calling interfaces connecting AI agents and software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications to more than 200 enterprise systems across HR, CRM, and collaboration tools. Founded by ex-Google and Oracle executives, StackOne raised a US$20 million Series A in May 2025 to continue building its state-of-the-art tool-calling large language model (LLM), invest in research and development (R&A), and further expand the number of integrations and depth of actions available in the StackOne platform. Early-stage innovators and scaling leaders After the Series A-stage leaders, 21 seed-stage ventures are featured. These young companies are still refining their initial products and searching for product market-fit. They include Boltz, an American startup developing AI models for molecular structure design and optimization, and Paid, a UK-based billing infrastructure provider for AI agents. This year, Boltz secured a multi-year collaboration with Pfizer and backing from Andreessen Horowitz, alongside Zetta Venture Partners and Amplify Partners. Paid, which is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital, has secured prominent enterprise customers including IFS and Artisan, and has grown its headcount 140% year-over-year (YoY), according to CB Insights. At the other end of the spectrum, 16 companies are in the Series B or later stages. These organizations have established business models and are seeing strong revenue growth. They are now expanding internationally, scaling their teams, and acquiring customers aggressively. They include Serval, which provides an AI-powered IT service management platform to automate help desk requests; Actively AI, which deploys persistent agents to automate sales accounts; and Positron, which develops purpose-built AI inference hardware optimized for transformer models. Serval serves clients like Perplexity, allowing them to achieve over 50% ticket automation. Backed by Sequoia and Redpoint Ventures, the company has grown headcount 347% YoY, according to CB Insights. Actively AI, founded by Stanford AI researchers, is driving measurable ROI, allowing clients like Samsara achieve 2x conversion rates. Actively AI has grown its headcount 107% YoY with top-4% hiring momentum. Finally, Positron, which manufactures chips in Arizona, claims 3.5x better performance-per-dollar than Nvidia’s H100 with 93% memory bandwidth utilization versus 10-30% in GPU systems. The company has grown headcount 120% YoY. Nine startups focused on financial services make the list This year’s CB Insights’ AI 100 list spans three broad categories: Enterprise application providers, which deliver AI products that deploy agents and workflows to automate or augment business functions across an organization; Industry application providers, which offer verticalized AI products built for the specific data, compliance, requirements, and workflows of an industry; and Infrastructure and compute, which provide the foundational layer of models, tooling, and hardware, and observability upon which AI applications are built on. Within the industry application category, financial services emerges as the largest subsector, featuring nine companies. This count makes it neck-and-neck with healthcare. The nine financial services-focused AI companies are: Agent Smyth, a New York-based autonomous agent platform for trading and investment; Avantos, an AI native operating system for client management, empowering financial institutions to onboard, service, and grow client relationships; Bretton AI, an AI agent platform for financial crime compliance; Casap, an award-winning dispute automation platform that streamlines compliance, reduces operational costs, and enhances consumer satisfaction for banks, credit unions, and fintech startups; FurtherAI, a domain-specific AI for the insurance industry, automating workflows like submission intake, policy comparisons, and underwriting processes; Light, a AI native finance platform automating payments, expense management, bookkeeping, and financial reporting across jurisdictions; Questflow, a collaborative AI automation tool for teams to create, orchestrate and automate tasks across platforms; Salient, an AI workflow automation tool for lenders, automating collections, customer service, disputes, chargebacks, and total-loss mitigation with compliance-first AI; and Tidalwave, an agentic AI company that aims to eliminate bottlenecks in the mortgage process. Physical AI becomes a standalone category A defining trend in this year’s AI 100 list is the debut of physical AI as a standalone category. Physical AI refers to AI systems that perceive, decide, and act in the physical world through autonomous machines and robotics. The sector has witnessed significant momentum over the past years, with companies in the space raising a record US$78 billion 2025. 11 companies comprise this new category, spanning robotics software, autonomous hardware, and enabling chips. These companies’ inclusion reflects a critical inflection point for physical AI, as the entire stack required to deploy autonomous systems in the real world is maturing simultaneously. Beyond these capabilities, the sector is also seeing a surge in solutions that coordinate multiple autonomous units toward shared objectives. Key players exemplifying this shift include: InOrbit, which builds AI-powered software to monitor, coordinate, and optimize fleets of autonomous robots in warehouses, factories, and other industrial environments; FieldAI, which develops AI systems that let different kinds of robots operate autonomously in complex real-world environments like construction, energy, and logistics sites; and Gravis Robotics, which retrofits excavators and other heavy construction equipment with AI and autonomy technology to improve productivity, safety, and precision on job sites. InOrbit grew its customer base 200% in the past year, according to CB Insights; FieldAI raised a US$314 million Series A at a US$2 billion valuation in August 2025; and Gravis Robotics, founded in 2022, is already deployed across seven countries, early signals that the market is forming fast. Observability and evaluation tools emerge amid rising agentic AI Another defining trend this year is the evolution of AI agents into a distinct class of actors. As these agents move from experimental prototypes to active participants in enterprise workflows, they require their own layers of identity, credentialing, and accountability. The observability and evaluation category in this year’s AI 100 list is addressing this. The nine companies in this category are building the necessary infrastructure to govern these non-human actors, establishing the operational rulebook for letting autonomous systems participate in enterprise workflows. These companies include: Keycard, which builds identity and access-management infrastructure that lets companies securely authenticate, authorize, and manage AI agents; Geordie AI, which provides governance and security monitoring for enterprise AI agents, giving teams visibility into how agents behave and what risks they pose; Virtue AI, which develops AI security software that red-teams, monitors, and applies guardrails to AI models and autonomous agents; and Straiker, which secures AI agents at runtime by detecting vulnerabilities, testing agents against attacks, and preventing malicious AI behavior in enterprise systems. Collectively, the nine companies in the observability and evaluation category have raised US$278 million in the last three years. This capital influx underscores the nascent stage of the category and highlights the growing recognition that robust governance and oversight are critical for autonomous systems to safely integrate into enterprise workflows. CB Insights’ 2026 AI 100: AI 100 2026, Source: CB Insights, May 2026   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by arslantanoli via Magnific The post The 100 Most Promising AI Startups of 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Home to world-class fintech hubs in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin, Europe offers a unique convergence of specialization and proximity. This dense network makes it an ideal meeting ground for global stakeholders. Among the events scheduled for the remainder of 2026, the following 20 are standing as the most significant gatherings. These event are expected to bring together top decision-makers and innovators to shape the future of the sector and accelerate digital transformation globally. Banking 4.0 and Banking Innovation Conference 2026 May 12-13, 2026 Hotel Berlin Potsdamer Platz by Leonardo Hotels, Berlin, Germany The Banking 4.0 and Banking Innovation Conference 2026 will take place on May 12 and 13, at the Hotel Berlin Potsdamer Platz by Leonardo Hotels in Berlin, Germany. This two-day event positions itself at the intersection of finance and technology, aiming to showcase the future of banking being built in one of Europe’s fastest-growing fintech hubs. The event will gather banking executives, fintech innovators, and technology leaders to discuss the practical realities of transforming financial services through artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven strategies. The Banking 4.0 and Banking Innovation Conference 2026 will focus on actionable insights rather than theoretical concepts, prioritizing real-world implementation and scalable automation strategies that reduce costs while increasing operational efficiency. Key topics will include: The integration of AI for fraud detection, predictive analytics and smarter decision-making; Streamlining operations across back-office and customer-facing systems; How financial institutions adapt to evolving regulatory frameworks; and Designing seamless, customer-first financial services. Speakers will include representatives from major financial entities such as the European Central Bank, Deutsche Bank, Erste Group, Tide, Zurcher Kantonalbank, and the Lietuvos Bankas (the Bank of Lithuania). Baltic Fintech Days (BFD 2026) May 12-13, 2026 Riga, Latvia Baltic Fintech Days (BFD 2026) will take place on May 12 and 13, in Riga, Latvia, promising the largest and most vibrant fintech experience in Europe. This event will highlight the Baltic region’s status as a global leader in fintech, connect regional innovation with global investors, partners, and talent, and serve as a platform to showcase the exceptional growth and dynamic nature of the Baltic ecosystem. It’s expected to bring together over 100 world-class speakers, 65 sessions, and numerous side events. On May 12, local fintech startups and members of the ecosystem will host a long list of exciting side events in various parts of the city. On May 13, the main conference will take place in at Hanzas Perons, located in the heart of Riga. The program will focus on five topics at the core of fintech in 2026: Cognitive & Intelligent Finance: Harnessing AI and data analytics to drive smarter risk management, personalized banking, and faster decision-making; Regulatory Technology & Cybersecurity: Addressing the growing need for compliance, security, and trust in fintech through RegTech solutions and cybersecurity measures; Future of Payments & Infrastructure: Focusing on the evolution of payment systems, digital payments, real-time transactions, and the impact of emerging technologies on global payments; Decentralized & Borderless Finance: Examining the role of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance (DeFi) in reshaping global financial systems; and Democratizing Finance: Exploring how technology is opening up investing, lending, saving, and credit, making finance more, accessible, and built for everyone, not just the few. Fintech Roadmap 2026 May 14, 2026 Czech National Bank Congress Centre, Prague, Czech Republic The fifth edition of Fintech Roadmap, the largest Czech-Slovak professional conference focused on fintech, will take place on May 14, 2026, bringing together over 350 founders, executives, investors, regulators, and technology partners. This event aims to serve as a meeting place for leaders of the Czech and Slovak business community while remaining open to international visitors. Fintech Roadmap 2026 will feature more than 350 attendees, with 32% comprising C-level executives and founders. The program will include over 40 speakers and operates across two stages, and three tracks. The Ecosystem track will open a dialogue between regulators, banks, associations, and fintech startups regarding legislation, infrastructure access, and security standards. It will focus on setting conditions that support innovation rather than hindering it, covering new EU regulatory trends, open banking development, licensing approaches, and the industry bodies overseeing this agenda. The Innovations track will present specific products, case studies, and emerging standards as technology changes finance faster than ever before. The program will highlights artificial intelligence (AI) applications, disruption in payments, collaboration between fintechs and banks, and asset tokenization, offering inspiration from real-world experiences of companies already deploying these innovations. The Funding & Business Growth track will explore how ideas grow into companies that survive their first years and succeed in foreign markets. The program will cover raising capital, pitching to investors, deciding when to scale versus when to slow down, and utilizing tools that support operating across borders during international expansion. Balkan Payment Forum 2026 May 14, 2026 Rogner Hotel, Tirana, Albania The Balkan Payment Forum 2026 will take place on May 14, at the Rogner Hotel in Tirana, Albania. The forum aims to serve as a high-level platform uniting the payments, fintech, and financial services ecosystem of the Balkans and Southern Europe with the global payments community. The Balkan Payment Forum 2026 will bring together central banks, regulators and authorities, financial institutions, payment service providers, innovators, investors, and technology providers from over 20 countries to address the region’s most important challenges and opportunities in digital payments. The event will feature more than 200 delegates, 25 speakers, over 15 regulators, and participants from more than 20 countries. Notable speakers will include: Holta Zacaj, First Deputy Governor Bank of Albania Gijs Boudewijn, Chairman of the Board European Payment Council (EPC) (Netherlands) Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister, Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Albania Michael Jennings, Head of Division, Eurosystem Market Infrastructures Development and Administration Banca d’Italia (Italy) Ledia Bregu, MBA, CID Director of Payment Systems, Accounting and Finance Department at Bank of Albania Mr. Dardan Fusha, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo Jose M. Moreno de Barreda, Digital Finance & Fintech Sr. Advisor IFC, International Finance Corporation (Spain) Linda Shomo, Co-Founder of Balkan Fintech Association, Founder & CEO EasyPay (Albania) The agenda will feature keynotes on regional payment infrastructure, and panels dissecting regulatory shifts like PSD3 and SEPA implementation. Afternoon sessions will shift to practical transformation through fireside chats and case studies on digital payments, concluding with strategic discussions on investment opportunities and the region’s potential as a fintech growth hub before evening networking. Key topics will include regulatory priorities for payments, innovation and financial integrity, bank-fintech collaboration models, mobile and instant payments, embedded finance, anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud prevention, and the cashless 2030 goal for the region. Stablecon EMEA 2026 May 19-20, 2026 Amsterdam, Netherlands Stablecon EMEA 2026 will take place on May 19 and 20, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, serving as a premier gathering for professionals at the intersection of DeFi, economic policy, financial infrastructure, and institutional integration. With a focus on the convergence of traditional finance and decentralized systems, the event will convene the brightest minds in fintech and crypto to foster strategic collaboration and provide world-class thought leadership on reinventing global commerce. The 2026 agenda will center on three pivotal themes: The Convergence track will explore how stablecoins have evolved from experiments to critical infrastructure, examining the integration of agentic AI, the rebuilding of cross-border payments, and the shift toward programmable money; The Infrastructure theme will address the need for flexible, interoperable systems capable of handling global scale, focusing on blockchain evolution, bridge protocols, and multi-chain strategies; and The Policy is Product track will treat regulation as a strategic market force, analyzing the impact of MiCA and UK frameworks, the role of CBDCs, and how operators can maintain compliance while driving innovation. The two-day event will be structured around deep-dive sessions that move beyond theoretical discussion to practical application. Attendees will explore how banks are integrating stablecoins into legacy rails, how AI is automating liquidity and risk management, the specific mechanics of building infrastructure that bends without breaking under global demand, and the strategic importance of policy. Speakers will include: Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, Founder and CEO, Flutterwave Jess Houlgrave, CEO, Walletconnect Keith Grose, CEO, CB Payments Ltd, Coinbase, UK Maike Hornung, Head of Crypto Europe, Visa Sabih Behzad, Head of Digital Assets and Currencies Transformation, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Latitude59 2026 May 20-22, 2026 Kultuurikatel, Tallinn, Estonia Latitude59 2026, a major startup and technology conference, will take place from May 20 to 22, at Kultuurikatel in Tallinn, Estonia. The event expects approximately 3,500 attendees from over 70 countries, featuring more than 180 speakers and 800 investors. This year’s theme, “The Global Village Experiment”, will explore how ecosystems collide to create valuable connections. Key topics will include climate and defense technologies, the balance between humanity and technology, and regulatory sandboxes for innovation through the “Thinking in Billions” side event organized with Estonia’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. Day 0 will offer 40+ side events and investor experiences, Day 1 will feature the main conference plus the legendary afterparty, and Day 2 will include pitch competition finals where winners have collectively raised over EUR 2 million. Notably, 2026 will introduce the first-ever two-day Builders Lab, giving ten selected teams direct feedback from companies like Google, Project Europe, and Bilt. Major tech players including Google Cloud, Meta, Mastercard, and Amazon Web Services will participate, with Google Cloud hosting its first AI agent workshop in the Baltics. insureNXT 2026 May 20-21, 2026 Koelnmesse Confex, Cologne, Germany insureNXT 2026, a premier international congress and trade fair for innovation in the insurance industry, will take place on May 20 and 21, at Koelnmesse Confex in Cologne. The event will bring together insurers, startups, service providers, and players from outside the industry to develop sustainable solutions for technological, cultural, and strategic challenges. Building on 2025’s success with 3,500 participants, 150 exhibitors, and 200 speakers across three stages, the 2026 edition is set to break records with over 230 exhibitors and partners already confirmed. The program will center on four key sectors: insurance, cross-industry, technology and startups, and science, with three focus topics driving the agenda: “Winning with AI” will explore scaling AI from pilots to measurable business outcomes, including agentic AI deployment; “Driving Customer-Centric Growth” will cover hyper-personalization and orchestrating channels from direct sales to embedded insurance partnerships; and ”Shaping Insurance of the Future” will address resilience amid market volatility, IT infrastructure, regulatory transformation, and balancing an aging workforce with modern technology needs. A highlight of this year’s event will be the insureNXT Innovators Award 2026, entirely dedicated to artificial intelligence, with six finalists presenting live on May 21 in the Demo Arena. Nordic Fintech Summit 2026 May 20-22, 2026 Wanha Satama, Helsinki, Finland The Nordic Fintech Summit 2026, scheduled from May 20 to 22, at Wanha Satama in Helsinki, Finland, aims to serve as the region’s premier senior convening point for leaders shaping the future of Nordic finance. With over 800 decision-makers, more than 80 speakers, and 30 partners, the event is set to facilitate more than 3,000 curated meetings, positioning the Nordics as a digitally mature and openly regulated gateway into the Eurozone. The three-day agenda will be structured to maximize high-level engagement and actionable intelligence. It will be tailored specifically for C-level banking, fintech, and regulatory leaders, prioritizing intimate, invitation-based circles where strategy shifts and regulatory plays will be exchanged among peers rather than broadcast to a general audience. May 20 will kick off with an exclusive “Strategy Talk Day” featuring intimate roundtables and theme-focused side events, while May 21 will serve as the main Summit Day with a networking-first layout across three tracks: the Nordic Fintech Highlights Stage, the Payments Arena, and the Strategy Talk Track for open peer learning. Paris Banking Summit 2026 May 21, 2026 L’Apostrophe, Paris, France The Paris Banking Summit 2026 will take place on May 21 at L’Apostrophe in Paris. Organized by Fitch Ratings and PwC, the summit will focus on resilience, innovation, and the future of the European banking landscape, bringing together industry leaders to examine the forces reshaping the sector. The summit will provide expert insights and interactive discussions on critical themes ranging from macroeconomic shifts and geopolitical sovereignty to the evolving competitive dynamics between traditional banks and emerging digital players. The agenda will feature specialized panels addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the industry. These will explore how digital banks and non-bank financial institutions are challenging traditional business models, and delve into the debate surrounding digital assets, tokens, and stablecoins, questioning whether they represent a threat or a transformative opportunity for European banks. The summit will culminate in a networking drinks reception, offering attendees a chance to connect with speakers and peers from major financial institutions, rating agencies, and consulting firms. Money20/20 Europe 2026 June 02-04, 2026 Amsterdam, Netherlands   Money20/20 Europe 2026 will be held in Amsterdam from June 02 to 04, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. This year’s event is expected to bring together more than 450 speakers across six stages, and four powerful themes that capture the forces redefining global finance. The 2026 agenda will be anchored by four transformative shifts: “AI and the Agentic Age”, where autonomous systems are rewriting how decisions are made; “The Great Rebundling”, mapping the rise of seamless, end‑to‑end financial experiences; “Money Stack Rewired”, spotlighting the stablecoin‑driven infrastructure reinventing how value moves; and “Regulation in the Fast Lane”, where rapid policy change is creating new competitive frontiers. New for 2026, the “Intersection Stage” will become the epicenter of one of the most important shifts in global finance: the convergence of tradfi and DeFi. As traditional institutions and decentralized networks increasingly collide, this stage will bring together the leaders, builders, and policymakers defining a new financial paradigm. The program will feature standout voices from across the financial spectrum, including Michael Shaulov, CEO, Fireblocks; Cassie Craddock, VP and Managing Director, UK and Europe, Ripple; Mark Jennings, CEO Europe, Gemini; Simone Maini, CEO, Elliptic; and Olugbenga Agboola, Founder and CEO, Flutterwave. VivaTech 2026 June 17-20 2026 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris, France VivaTech 2026 will celebrate its 10th anniversary from June 17 to 20 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, expanding into the larger Hall 7 and featuring a unique installation on the Champs Elysees. As one of Europe’s largest tech events, VivaTech 2026 expects 180,000 attendees, including 14,000 startups, 4,000 partners, and 3,600 investors. This year’s agenda will be driven by eleven core themes: Artificial Intelligence: Impact, Not Illusion​ Productivity Reimagined: Is the future of work still working? Sovereignty & Ethics: Who controls the future: nations, platforms, or algorithms? Energy, Greentech & Mobility: Our planet at a turning point Cybersecurity & Defense: Can innovation outsmart the next threat? Health & Longevity: What happens when humans become upgradeable? Risk, Build, Scale: High stakes, new tech and uneven odds Creative Industries: Technology can generate. But can it create? Tech Beyond the Obvious: From Deeptech and Radical Science to Practical ingenuity CMO Summit: Rewriting the Playbook for Attention Tech Leaders Summit: Make It Work. Make It Scale. A major highlight this year will be the new VivaTech x Bloomberg Awards, hosted in a brand new 2,000-seat “Theater” venue. This partnership will bring seven new award categories to be broadcast globally, cementing VivaTech’s status as a media powerhouse. Swiss Fintech Week 2026 June 19-25, 2026 Kongresshaus Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Running from June 19 to 25, Swiss Fintech Week 2026 will unite over 1,500 attendees, including visionary founders, top investors, corporate leaders, and regulators in a week-long initiative to showcase the best of Swiss fintech. Organized as a joint effort by Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum, Tenity, and the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), this event aims to fill a gap in the global landscape by bundling existing independent events into a cohesive festival that cements Zurich’s status as a world-leading fintech hub. The program will explore some of the most important technological shifts in financial services, including: AI in banking and financial services; Tokenization and digital assets; The integration of financial services into digital ecosystems; and Next-generation financial infrastructure. The central conference will take place at Kongresshaus Zurich, complemented by curated side events, networking formats, ecosystem gatherings, and networking opportunities distributed across the entire city. Point Zero Forum 2026 June 23-25, 2026 Kongresshaus Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland The Point Zero Forum 2026, taking place from June 23 to 25 at the Kongresshaus Zurich, is an initiative of the GFTN and the Swiss State Secretariat for International Finance to promote a policy and technology dialogue in Financial Services. Held annually in Zurich, the forum convenes central bankers, regulators, policymakers, and industry leaders to address the latest developments in financial technology and the future of finance. This year, the forum will move beyond theoretical discussion to drive confidence and adoption of transformative technologies, assessing the necessary risk frameworks for a shifting global financial landscape. The agenda will be structured around leadership dialogues, public-private roundtables, and deep-dive workshops focusing on seven themes: Tokenization and digital assets; AI in financial services; Agentic commerce and the future of payments; Governance, policy and regulation; Wealth and private capital; Quantum readiness; and Global corridors and new finance hubs. Speakers will include Swiss Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, UBS CEO Sergio P. Ermotti, and European Commissioner H.E. Maria Luisa Albuquerque. Following the main conference, the forum will extend into “Innovation Tours” on June 25 across various Zurich locations, fostering further networking and practical engagement. Next Banking Summit 2026 July 02, 2026 Berlin, Germany Next Banking Summit 2026, scheduled for July 02, in Berlin, will break the traditional conferences by taking place entirely within the House of Finance and Tech (HoFT) Backfabrik campus, a working environment shared by active fintech firms like Scalable Capital, Pliant, and Upvest. Designed as a focused, one-day event, the summit will bring together 185 decision-makers from 115 companies to debate the future of Europe’s financial stack. The agenda will be framed by three critical questions: who controls the financial stack, where the banking-as-a-service (BaaS) consolidation wave will land, and what happens when AI transitions from an assistant to an autonomous decision-maker. The morning agenda will feature keynote and panel sessions that tackle high-stakes topics like the “agentic finance shift” and the implications of FIDA and PSD3 for the European data economy. In the afternoon, the format will shift to immersive masterclasses, allowing attendees to discuss embedded finance, AML, and platform sovereignty. Nordic Fintech Week 2026 September 21-25, 2026 Copenhagen, Denmark Nordic Fintech Week 2026, taking place from September 21 to 25, in Copenhagen, Denmark, promises the largest finance and fintech conference in the region, leveraging the Nordics’ reputation as a prime hub for digital adoption and high-trust innovation. The week-long gathering is expected to draw over 2,000 attendees, including 225 speakers, 200 fintech companies, and 150 financial institutions. The main conference, scheduled for September 23 and 24, will be driven by ten forward-looking themes: Agentic finance and AI-native financial systems; Payments and the new transaction rails; Programmable money and digital assets; Embedded finance and platform economies; Super accounts and the future financial interface; Wealth, pensions and democratized investing; Insurance, health, and longevity finance; Capital markets reinvented; Security, fraud, and trust in an AI world; and Quantum computing and post-quantum security. High-profile speakers will include: Edwin de Ron, Product Manager, Signicat; Tanya Juul Kjær, VP Product Acquiring, Worldline; Jean-Baptiste Kaloya, VP of Product Design & Research, Bpifrance; Thibault Moeyersoms, Country Manager Northern Europe, Chift; and Ulrik Nødgaard, Governor, Danmarks Nationalbank. A key highlight in 2026 will be the introduction of “Insight 365,” a continuous online platform that extends the ecosystem’s engagement beyond a single week and opening up ongoing access to insights, perspectives, and conversations shaping the ecosystem. Fintech Week & Expo 2026 October 07-08, 2026 Frankfurt, Germany Fintech Week & Expo 2026 is returning to Frankfurt, Germany, on October 07 and 08, positioning itself as a pivotal gathering in one of the world’s most dynamic financial hubs. Now in its fifth edition, the event will center on the theme “Shaping Next-Gen Finance: AI, Real-Time Payments and Financial Crime Prevention,” bringing together over 500 attendees and 120 expert speakers. The agenda will feature more than 45 sessions designed to bridge the gap between fintech founders, investors, regulators, and traditional banking leaders, fostering a collaborative environment for discussing the transformation of financial services through AI-powered finance, decentralized technologies, and open finance. Speakers will include: Frank Jan Risseeuw, COO, ING Wholesale Banking, Netherlands Zena Mokdad, Director, Banks and Fintech Client Coverage, Standard Chartered, France Simon Begeer, Product Manager Digital Euro, Rabobank, Netherlands Joris Dekker, Market Infrastructures Expert, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Netherlands Beyond the conference sessions, the event will offer an exhibition floor where organizations will get to showcase their solutions directly to decision-makers from banks and financial institutions actively seeking innovation. Attendees will also be able to engage in targeted networking through roundtables, workshops, and exclusive side events, while speakers will have the opportunity to take the stage for keynotes, panel discussions, or fireside chats. Fintech Meetup Europe October 06-08, 2026 Lisbon, Portugal Fintech Meetup Europe is launching in Lisbon, Portugal from 6-8 October 2026. Building on Fintech Meetup’s huge success, the proven model is coming to Europe. The event will bring together 2,500+ attendees, including 650+ hosted buyers from banks, financial institutions, retailers, and merchants, alongside fintech innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across Europe and beyond. MoneyLIVE Nordic Banking 2026 October 27-28, 2026 Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark MoneyLIVE Nordic Banking 2026 will take place on October 27 and 28, at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, standing as a premier banking and payments conference for the Nordic and Baltic regions. The event is expected to bring together over 800 attendees to define strategies, manage emerging risks, and seize the opportunities of innovation. The agenda will be structured across three stages to cover critical themes such as AI-powered customer acquisition, the transformation of payments, and the future of European wallets and account-to-account (A2A) transfers. The program will feature over 100 speakers, including: Tomas Hedberg, Deputy President and Deputy CEO, Swedbank Kirsten Renner, Group Chief Information Officer and Head of Technology, Nordea Mark Luscombe, CEO, Sydbank Sander Aasna, Chief Product Officer, SEB Baltics Mette Hindborg Gade, Chief Product Owner, Lunar Julie Chatterjee, Group CEO, Northmill Bank Vegar Heir, Chief Commercial Officer, Vipps MobilePay Beyond the formal sessions, the conference will foster deep networking through curated formats and conclude with an official after-party, providing a platform for the region’s most influential players to forge partnerships. Portugal Tech Week 2026 November 06-15, 2026 Portugal Portugal Tech Week 2026 will take place from November 06 to 15, distinguishing itself as the largest decentralized innovation festival in the country, spanning 20 cities and hosting over 300 free events for an expected 23,000 participants. The festival aims to consolidate Portugal’s position as a global tech hub by democratizing access to innovation, connecting people, startups, and businesses in a dynamic, unbound environment that celebrates the nation’s ambitious growth trajectory. Building on its roots since 2022, which saw over 100 events including the Web Summit, and the expansion in 2023 with support from partners like StartupPortugal and the European Commission, the 2026 edition will scale significantly to include more than 200 scheduled events. The program will be designed to foster technology with purpose, highlighting the startups that are driving transformation and the communities that are leading the way. Web Summit Lisbon 2026 November 09-12, 2026 Lisbon, Portugal Web Summit Lisbon 2026 will take place from November 09 to 12, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal. As the flagship event of the one of the world’s largest technology conference series, it will bring together over 70,000 participants from more than 160 countries, featuring over 1,000 speakers and 2,000 startups. The gathering will attract professionals from IT, engineering, data science, software development, hardware, Internet-of-Things (IoT), and industrial automation sectors to exchange ideas and shape the future of technology and innovation. Founded in Dublin in 2009 as a small 150-person tech conference, Web Summit has grown exponentially to gather over a million business people worldwide. Its mission centers on creating meaningful connections between CEOs, founders, investors, media, politicians, and cultural figureheads who are reshaping the global landscape. The event typically features multiple tracks covering a wide range of tech themes including AI, fintech and digital finance, startups and scaleups, software-as-a-service (SaaS), cybersecurity and data, and sustainability and future tech. Slush 2026 November 18-19, 2026 Helsinki, Finland Slush 2026 will take place on November 18 and 19, 2026, in Helsinki, Finland. As one of the world’s leading startup events, this year’s event is expected to bring together 13,000 attendees including 6,000 startups and scaleups, 3,500 investors, 1,700 partners, 250 media representatives, and 200 speakers. Founded in 2008 as a small 250-person gathering, Slush has grown into a major hub for European startups, world-class investors, and tech journalists, serving as a “human accelerator” for young people pursuing careers in tech and entrepreneurship. Slush is industry-agnostic and is attended by startups spanning more than 50 sectors, with fintech, SaaS, healthtech, AI, gaming, deeptech, medtech, energy, edtech, and manufacturing leading the pack.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by 21ST via Magnific The post Top 21 Fintech Events in Continental Europe for Late 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

This year, global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dealmakers have powered through geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainty. In Q1 2026, total deal value reached an estimated US$1.6 trillion, setting a new quarterly record and marking a 50.6% year-over-year (YoY) increase, according to new data released by capital markets research platform PitchBook. The number of transactions also climbed 18% YoY to an 13,877,  landing at the same record levels observed in Q4 2025 and underscoring the strength of the M&A market. Global M&A activity by quarter, Source: Global M&A Report Q1 2026, PitchBook, Apr 2026 Energy leads M&A growth In Q1 2026, investors’ priorities shifted towards the energy sector, which led M&A growth with value up 59.8% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ), followed by business-to-consumer (B2C) at 38.6%. Energy also posted the most dramatic valuation expansion. The enterprise value multiple jumped from about 6.6 times annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, to 9 times those earnings, marking a 36.5% jump. This indicates that investors were willing to pay significantly more for similar levels of profit, which suggests stronger confidence in the sector’s future growth, profitability, or attractiveness. This was driven largely by increased demand for infrastructure and energy-transition-related assets, PitchBook notes. Median M&A EV/EBITDA multiple by sector, Source: Global M&A Report Q1 2026, PitchBook, Apr 2026 SpaceX’s xAI transaction drives IT M&A value IT sector figures were strong as well, primary led by the xAI transaction, a US$250 billion related-party sale to SpaceX with clear shared ownership, which inflated the picture considerably. The transaction helped propel the sector to its highest quarterly value on record to an estimated US$409.5 billion. SpaceX and xAI are two companies founded and led by Elon Musk. This transaction units aerospace capabilities with xAI’s AI and social media assets from X, creating a combined entity valued at US$1.3 trillion. According to PitchBook, this strategic move is a precursor to SpaceX’s anticipated initial public offering (IPO). By merging with xAI before going public, SpaceX is transforming its investor narrative from “rocket developer and Internet provider” into “AI and space-infrastructure platform.” IT M&A activity by quarter, Source: Global M&A Report Q1 2026, PitchBook, Apr 2026 Large transactions dominate financial services M&A Financial services M&A meanwhile held steadily in Q1 2026 against the momentum seen at the end of 2025. Levels remained elevated relative to the sector’s historic figures despite a QoQ decline. In Q1 2026, there were an estimated 976 deals worth a total value of US$170.2 billion in the financial services sector. These totals are over 30% above pre-pandemic averages despite declining 6.5% and 29.8% QoQ, respectively. Financial services M&A activity by quarter, Source: Global M&A Report Q1 2026, PitchBook, Apr 2026 This year, financial services M&A activity continued shifting toward larger transactions. There were 23 financial services megadeals totaling US$108.9 billion in Q1 2026, compared with 19 totaling US$66.2 billion in Q1 2025. Elevated megadeal activity reflects market participants’ push for scale and consolidation in an evolving sector, as well as continued appetite for bold M&A despite macroeconomic volatility, PitchBook says. Asset managers turn to M&A to remain competitive Asset managers were especially active in Q1 2026, turning to M&A to remain competitive. In March, Corebridge Financial acquired Equitable Holdings for US$22 billion to create a retirement, life insurance, wealth, and asset management platform with US$1.5 trillion in assets under management (AUM). The acquisition will expand the offerings available to customers, accelerate technological initiatives, and potentially deliver more than US$500 million in expense synergies by the end of 2028 through the elimination of redundant roles, vendors, and IT systems. The combined company will also enhance origination and investment capabilities through Equitable’s active asset management subsidiary AllianceBernstein, with plans to shift over US$100 billion of Corebridge’s accounts to AllianceBernstein over time. Another notable transaction in Q1 2026 was the acquisition of UK-based Schroders by US asset manager Nuveen. The deal, valued at US$13.5 billion, is set to expand the company’s geographic footprint and create an asset manager with a combined AUM of US$2.5 trillion. Fintech M&A activity declines Fintech M&A activity, meanwhile, continued to decline in Q1 2026, reaching 199 transactions in Q1 2026 and marking a 26% QoQ decline, according to CB Insights data. Notable deals that quarter were concentrated in areas that saw outsized funding growth in 2025, particularly cryptocurrency, spend management, and business-to-business (B2B) technology. In particular, Capital One completed its US$5.3 billion acquisition of Brex, following the spend management sector’s fourfold funding growth in 2024 and 2025; Fireblocks acquired Tres Finance in crypto accounting and tax reporting; and Mastercard announced a US$1.8 billion deal for BVNK in the crypto payment processor vertical, which was up 3.5-fold. The transaction is still pending regulatory approval. Quarterly fintech M&A, Source: State of Fintech Q1 2026, CB Insights, Apr 2026 Public listings also fell in Q1 2026, with only 11 companies going public compared to 24 in Q4 2025. Several high-profile IPOs, including Clear Street and Kraken, were postponed at the start of the year, citing unfavorable market conditions. Notable IPOs in Q1 2026 included PayPay, a Japanese payments app; PicPay, a Brazilian digital bank; and BitGo, a crypto custody firm.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Magnific The post Global M&A Surges and Hits US$1.6 Trillion Record in Q1 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

AMINA Bank has become the first bank to support Canton Coin (CC), the native token of the Canton Network, by offering custody and trading services to its clients. Canton Network is a public blockchain that focuses on privacy for capital markets. It has recently attracted participation from traditional finance and decentralised finance organisations, including DTCC, Visa and BitGo, which are developing settlement, tokenisation, custody and collateral applications on the network. The network is also building an on-chain capital markets ecosystem covering repo, lending and wrapped asset flows designed for regulated market participants. Through its offering, AMINA will provide institutional clients, including Super Validators and professional investors, with custody and trading access to Canton Coin. The service is delivered through a single FINMA-regulated institution. Myles Harrison, Chief Product Officer at AMINA, said: Myles Harrison “By making Canton Coin available for custody and trading, AMINA is providing clients, whether they are Super Validators or investors seeking exposure to Canton Network’s growth, with the regulated access they need to engage with this ecosystem.” Viv Diwakar, Head of the Canton Foundation, said: Viv Diwakar “For Canton Network participants who need a compliant, supervised home for their Canton Coin holdings, AMINA provides that with the credibility and regulatory standing that the ecosystem demands.” AMINA has previously introduced several digital assets to its institutional client base, including being the first globally to support Ripple USD (RLUSD) and among the first to offer SUI trading and custody. The bank said it intends to continue expanding its involvement in the Canton Network ecosystem as it develops.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mrsiraphol via Magnific The post AMINA Becomes First Bank to Support Canton Coin Custody and Trading appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Signicat, a European provider of digital identity solutions, has appointed Emma Bauer as Global Chief Product Officer. She will join the leadership team to support the scaling of the company’s Software-as-a-Service platform, as Europe prepares for regulatory changes including eIDAS 2.0 and the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR). The company noted that the European digital identity market remains uneven, with high adoption of electronic identities in Nordic countries compared with more fragmented approaches in parts of Southern Europe. Signicat has expanded its offering through eight acquisitions, building a product portfolio aimed at supporting cross-border identity and authentication needs for regulated industries and public sector organisations. Emma Bauer began her career as a software developer and has held product leadership roles in technology companies operating in growth environments. Signicat said she brings experience in scaling product organisations and working across distributed teams. As Chief Product Officer, Bauer will oversee product strategy and development, with a focus on incorporating artificial intelligence and maintaining compliance with evolving regulatory requirements across Europe. Emma Bauer “Digital identity is the foundation of a modern society, but differing consumer behaviours and upcoming regulations across Europe create a complex challenge,” said Emma Bauer, CPO of Signicat. “Signicat is positioned to address this by providing a unified platform for cross-border transactions. I was drawn to its purpose, culture, and market position. This is a significant scaling phase, and I look forward to contributing to its development.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image digitizesc via Magnific The post Signicat Names Emma Bauer CPO as EU Identity Rules Tighten appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In the financial services industry, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved into a mainstream standard, with machine learning (ML), and generative AI (genAI) emerging as the most widely adopted technologies in the category, according to a new study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) at Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge. However, the realization of profitability gains and operational improvements depend heavily on an organization’s AI maturity, sophistication, and investment levels, the research found. Released in April 2026, the study was conducted between October 2025 and January 2026, and captured insights from 628 financial institutions, AI vendors, and regulatory authorities operating across 151 jurisdictions. Results highlight the widespread adoption of AI in finance, with 81% of industry players now adopting AI at some level and 40% reporting advanced AI adoption, including “Scaling” or “Transforming”. This underscores the industry’s recognition of AI’s critical role in enhancing efficiency, risk management, and customer personalization. AI adoption maturity: industry versus regulators, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 Fintech firms lead in adoption Findings show a clear divide between fintech companies and incumbents, with fintech firms leading in AI adoption and being more than three times more likely as traditional financial institutions to have reached the “Transforming” stage at 19% versus 6% for incumbents. Conversely, incumbents show higher shares of “Exploring” (21%) and “Piloting” (44%), underscoring slower progression through the AI adoption maturity curve. This disparity reflects the fact that fintech firms are digital-first, more agile adopters of new technologies, whereas traditional financial institutions often face organizational inertia, legacy complexity and more demanding integration and security requirements that complicate the path to scaling deployment. AI adoption maturity by type – fintech firms versus traditional financial institutions, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 ML and genAI as primary frontiers Looking at specific technologies, the study found that classical ML is the most widely adopted AI technology among the financial services providers, embraced by 75% of respondents. These systems learn statistical patterns from labeled historical data and are commonly applied to fraud scoring, credit underwriting, and anti-money laundering (AML) anomaly detection. However, several newer technologies are rapidly scaling. GenAI, in particular, is recording an adoption rate of 71%. GenAI involves large ML models trained once on a vast corpus of text, code, or other data, and then adapted to many downstream generation tasks. Additionally, agentic AI has emerged as a booming frontier technology, with 52% of industry respondents actively adopting it. This demonstrates rapid uptake in a relatively short period of time. Agentic AI refers to systems that pursue objectives through autonomous, multi-step sequences of actions. Common applications include autonomous trading, dynamic portfolio rebalancing, and real-time risk mitigation. Active AI adoption by AI type and stakeholder group – % active adoption covers Piloting, Scaling or Transforming, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 AI deployment in financial services The research also looked at the deployment of AI within financial institutions, and found that AI is mostly used in operational and back-office functions. The most mature and widely adopted use cases globally are process automation, data visualization, and software development, with adoption rates of 79%, 75%, and 75%, respectively. Within the front-office, AI-powered customer support leads at 73%, followed by sales, customer relationship management (CRM) and outreach at 67%, and marketing and personalization at 64%. These applications primarily support client relationship management and enhance customer acquisition strategies. Industry AI adoption maturity across use cases, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 The impact of AI Findings from the study also show that AI adoption is increasingly generating measurable improvements across financial services, especially regarding productivity. The strongest gains were observed in technology, data, and product functions, where 79% of respondents reported positive outcomes. Back office and operations followed closely at 75% overall. AI productivity impact by function and firm type, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 Crucially, the research found strong correlations between AI maturity, sophistication, and spend. 64% of more mature adopters of AI reported increased profitability compared with 33% of less mature firms. Similarly, 56% of fintech firms recorded productivity gains compared with 34% of financial institutions, a divergence which aligns with the 17% maturity gap in advanced AI adoption between fintech firms and finance incumbents. Investment levels also play a pivotal role, with 61% of firms that invested over US$100,000 in the most recent financial year observing increases in profitability compared to 40% of firms spending less than US$100,000. Furthermore, firms with fully in-house or fine-tuned AI models reported higher profitability gains at 54% compared with those relying on off-the-shelf or vendor-built solutions at 39%. Taken together, these findings indicate that realizing financial value from AI may depend less on adoption alone and more on organizational maturity, technical capability and the level of control over AI development. Reported AI profitability impact across key comparison groups, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 Workforce implications of AI and future outlook Regarding the impact of AI on employment in the financial services sector, the results show that the actual effect on headcount has remained very limited for the last three years, with 74% of respondents reporting that no significant job losses or gains have been observed due to AI implementation. Looking ahead to 2030, the industry expects structural transformation rather than simple contraction. 25% of firms expect “Reskilling and Transformation” of the workforce. Combined with the 10% of respondents expecting a net increase, a total of 35% of the industry anticipates a future where job roles are transformed through reskilling or positively impacted by the use of AI. Nevertheless, a quarter of firms predict a net reduction in jobs by 2030, with the payments sector being the most pessimistic, with 21% of respondents projecting a significant decline. Expected job impact of AI by 2030 by sub-sector, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026 Challenges to AI adoption Despite growing AI adoption, the CCAF study also highlights persistent challenges, especially around data quality, fragmented systems, technology and infrastructure challenges, and limited institutional capabilities. Data availability and quality are the leading pain point hindering AI adoption, cited by 66% of AI vendors, 46% of regulators, 40% of industry participants. Vendors also reported specifically acute data-related challenges when working with their clients, with 72% citing data quality and completeness, 46% legacy systems and siloed environments, and 41% reporting data-sharing restrictions. For surveyed regulators, lack of AI training and capacity building (48%), talent (47%), and technology and infrastructure (45%) are also core constraints for AI adoption in addition to data issues. Top six pain points for AI adoption by stakeholder group, Source: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks, Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), Apr 2026   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by tamirt via Magnific The post AI Adoption in Finance Tops 81% appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Financial technology vendor FIS has partnered with AI company Anthropic to introduce new automation tools for banks. The collaboration centres on deploying FIS Anthropic agentic AI technology to accelerate anti-money laundering investigations and reduce compliance costs. The first product from the partnership, the Financial Crimes AI Agent, cuts the time required to review suspicious activity. The system automatically gathers evidence across a bank’s core platforms, checks account activity against known money laundering patterns, and flags high-risk cases for human review. North American lenders BMO and Amalgamated Bank will be the first financial institutions to deploy the technology. Broader availability for the tool is scheduled for the second half of 2026. Anthropic engineers are working directly with FIS to design the initial agent and train the company’s internal teams. This will allow FIS to build future tools independently. The architecture relies on Anthropic’s Claude models for reasoning. Client data remains entirely within FIS infrastructure to maintain regulatory compliance. Stephanie Ferris “Every bank in the world wants AI that acts, not just assists. The future is about a trusted provider who manages the data, who governs the agents, and who stands between your customers and the AI making decisions about their money.” Stephanie Ferris, CEO and President, FIS, said. Jonathan Pelosi, Head of Financial Services at Anthropic, said FIS provides the regulatory knowledge and transaction data necessary for practical applications. Jonathan Pelosi “They needed a model that could reason through complex investigations accurately, explain its work, and operate safely inside regulated workflows,” Pelosi said. Scaling FIS Anthropic agentic AI in banking Banks currently spend billions annually on compliance operations. A large portion of this cost stems from investigators manually compiling data from disconnected systems before they can begin their analysis. The new tool connects to both FIS and proprietary bank systems to assemble complete case files at the start of an investigation. Following the release of the compliance tool, FIS plans to expand its AI roadmap. Future applications will focus on credit decisions, customer onboarding, and fraud prevention.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by topntp26 via Magnific The post FIS and Anthropic Launch Agentic AI for Bank AML Investigations appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

SIX has received approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) to merge its digital central securities depository, SIX Digital Exchange, into SIX SIS. The consolidation brings digital and traditional asset services under a single legal entity, forming the basis for integrated post-trade services across both asset classes. Separately, SIX has also obtained FINMA approval to offer crypto custody services through its licensed central securities depository. The development allows financial institutions to access crypto custody within the same regulated infrastructure used for traditional securities. According to SIX, the arrangement will operate under a combined model that links traditional and digital assets through a single post-trade environment, aiming to reduce operational complexity. Rafael Moral Santiago “Our objective is to provide financial institutions with a unified, secure, and regulated gateway to digital assets,” said Rafael Moral Santiago, Head Securities Services and member of the Executive Board at SIX. “By extending our CSD infrastructure to include crypto custody and integrating digital asset capabilities into our core offering, we combine digital asset innovation with the regulatory certainty and operational robustness of established financial market infrastructure.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by topntp26 via Magnific The post SIX to Merge Digital Exchange into SIS After FINMA Crypto Custody Approval appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Santander has agreed to participate in funding rounds totalling approximately £550 million for Ebury, its cross-border payments and international trade platform. Centerbridge Partners is leading the investment alongside existing backers Santander, Vitruvian Partners and 83North. Santander will invest £50 million and retain a 55% majority stake. The parties will execute the transactions in two stages, subject to regulatory approval. Ebury operates in 30 regulated markets and serves over 27,000 businesses. Its platform enables payments in more than 140 currencies across 160 countries. It also allows clients to manage foreign exchange risk, transfer funds between subsidiaries in real time, and integrate with financial systems. Since Santander invested in 2020, Ebury has grown its revenue by more than 30% annually. The company will use the proceeds to expand geographically and develop new products. It also plans to strengthen its AI capabilities to improve payment processing, optimise foreign exchange services and enhance the client experience. Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander, said: Ana Botín “These transactions support both Ebury’s continued growth and Santander’s focus on disciplined capital allocation and value creation. The additional investments will enable Ebury to scale faster and enhance its offering to SMEs globally.” Juan Lobato, Ebury’s CEO, said: Juan Lobato “These investments come at a pivotal time, as the evolution of digital money infrastructure and agentic payment workflows will provide strong tailwinds and further accelerate our growth.” After completion, Santander will apply the equity method to account for its stake, which will remove Ebury’s revenues and costs from its consolidated reporting with minimal impact on the income statement. The transaction should add around four basis points to CET1, with completion expected by the first quarter of 2027.     Featured image credit: Ebury press release The post Santander Raises Stake to 55% as Ebury Secures £550M Funding Round appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.