Bits, a Stockholm-based provider of compliance and onboarding infrastructure for regulated fintech firms and banks, has raised €12 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Alstin Capital, with participation from Cherry Ventures, Unusual Ventures and Alliance Ventures. Haval van Drumpt, chief executive of Tre Sweden, also invested. The company will use the funding to increase automation across financial crime and fraud workflows and to expand coverage of regulatory and data sources across Europe. Jonatan Klintberg “Our customers need to scale, convert, and remain compliant at the same time,” said Jonatan Klintberg, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Bits. “By unifying onboarding, fraud, and AML workflows in a single platform, teams gain the speed and control needed to expand across Europe.” Bits was founded in 2022 by former employees of Klarna, AWS and Tink. The company provides a compliance infrastructure platform that supports KYC and KYB workflows in more than 100 jurisdictions. The platform connects to company registries, beneficial ownership data, sanctions and PEP lists, and fraud signals through a single integration. Bits says its software can reduce manual case handling by 50–70% and cut onboarding times by up to six times, while allowing human reviewers to focus on higher-risk cases. Customers include Qliro, Alisa Bank and Walley. The company plans to expand its presence in the DACH region and the UK.     Featured image credit: Bits The post Bits Raises €12M Series A to Scale Compliance Automation Across Europe appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Santander UK has announced the appointment of Mahesh Aditya as Chief Executive Officer of Santander UK Group Holdings and Santander UK, effective 1 March. Aditya joins from Banco Santander, where he has served as Group Chief Risk Officer since 2023. Prior to this, he spent six years at Santander in the US, including two years as Chief Risk Officer, Santander US, and four years as CEO of Santander Consumer USA from 2019 to 2023. He has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, having held roles at Citi, JPMorgan Chase, and Capital One. The Santander UK Boards appointed Aditya on 1 October 2025. Aditya said: Mahesh Aditya “I am pleased to be joining Santander UK as its CEO at such an important time. The acquisition of TSB will both accelerate our transformation and add to the considerable inward investment Group has made in the UK since it entered the market in 2004.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by digitizesc via Freepik The post Santander UK Names Mahesh Aditya as CEO appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Ripple has received full approval for its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). The company had announced preliminary approval last month and has now met all conditions required by the CSSF. Cassie Craddock “Securing our full EMI license in the EU is a transformative milestone that reinforces Ripple’s presence at the heart of European finance,” said Cassie Craddock, Managing Director, UK & Europe at Ripple. “Europe has always been a strategic priority for us, and this authorisation allows us to scale our mission of providing robust, compliant blockchain infrastructure to clients across the EU.” The approval coincides with Ripple’s ongoing expansion of its global license portfolio. Last month, the company also received an EMI license and cryptoasset registration from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Two Happy Bear via Freepik The post Ripple Granted Full EU Electronic Money License in Luxembourg appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The German financial media company finanzen.net Group, which also operates the neo-broker finanzen.net ZERO, has acquired AI-driven investment platform Vickii. Founded in 2022 as a student project in Münster by 20-year-olds Jai Bheeman, Lukas Söllner, and Alexander Brils, Vickii aims to make investing intuitive, personalised, and accessible for a digital generation, with AI at the core of its platform, according to Startup Rise EU. Alexander Brils “We never doubted our vision. This acquisition shows that we were right,” said Alexander Brils, CPO of Vickii. “A (neo)broker had long been the logical exit route. That the right opportunity has emerged now was not something we could have predicted. With finanzen.net ZERO, we can realise our ideas faster and at greater scale, in an excellent environment.” The acquisition strengthens finanzen.net Group’s capabilities in user-focused, AI-driven financial content and brokerage. The finanzen.net Group will progressively integrate Vickii’s technology into its portal and finanzen.net ZERO, providing investors with tailored guidance from research and analysis to investment decisions. The founders will remain involved, contributing to the development of AI-powered products and content. Muhamad Chahrour, CEO of finanzen.net Group, added: Muhamad Chahrour “AI, when used pragmatically, can create significant value for users. We want to provide our readers with more clearly structured information and give our investors a better orientation.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wahyu_t via Freepik The post Vickii Acquired by finanzen.net Group to Expand AI-Driven Investing appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut’s billionaire co-founder and CEO, Nik Storonsky, has switched his residency back to the UK, months after a Companies House filing erroneously listed his address as the UAE, the Financial Times reports. In October, a filing from Storonsky’s family office changed his address to the UAE, prompting concern from UK regulators. The family office has now corrected the record, restoring his UK residency. Born in Russia, Storonsky is a British citizen. In an interview cited by the FT, Storonsky described reports of his move to the UAE as “fake news,” explaining that he divides his time between the UK, Europe, Dubai, and Latin America. He added that, “from the family office’s point of view, since I’m also a director, they used my Dubai address for correspondence.” The FT notes that Revolut has not publicly acknowledged the filing error or sought to correct earlier media coverage. Initial reports in October reportedly led regulators to seek assurances from the fintech. Revolut secured a UK banking license in 2024 after a three-year wait but remains in a “mobilisation” period before full authorisation. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reportedly clashed with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey over accelerating Revolut’s banking authorisation, with Reeves keen to see the fintech fully licensed as soon as possible. Storonsky’s brief departure from the UK also sparked broader concerns about the country’s appeal to entrepreneurs.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post Revolut CEO Nik Storonsky Returns to UK Residency After Filing Confusion appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Malta is positioning itself as the go-to-place for innovative fintech companies in Europe. Its strong technology capabilities, a highly educated workforce, and a forward‑looking regulatory environment that emphasizes agility and accessibility, create an attractive ecosystem for fintech entrepreneurs seeking regional scale. Recognizing fintech as a strategic growth sector, the Maltese government has built a pro‑business regulatory and funding framework to nurture its development. Fintech Malta Government support The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) drives much of this effort through its Fintech Strategy, which defines six strategic pillars as the core areas for innovation in financial services, namely regulation, ecosystem, architecture, international links, knowledge and security. Several initiatives have been launched under the strategy, including the Fintech Regulatory Sandbox, introduced in 2020, and the Innovation Office. The sandbox allows startups to test products under real-world conditions, with clear feedback and supervision from the MFSA, while the Innovation Office houses a dedicated team focusing on technology-enabled financial innovation that guides startups through the possible regulatory implications of their ideas or solution, and helps them to identify the appropriate opportunities. Another key governmental institution is the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA). Established in 2018, the MDIA provides advisory support to facilitate the uptake of digital innovation, and runs the Digital Innovation Hub (DiHubMT), which supplies tools and professional support to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The MDIA also operates the Technology Sandbox, focusing on blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), and solutions deployed in critical environment. The program is intended to guide solution owners throughout a residency of up to four years as they align their solution with established control objectives based on international standards through a phased approach. Malta was among the world’s pioneers in cryptocurrency regulation, introducing the Virtual Financial Assets (VFA) Act back in 2018. In 2024, the VFA began to be phased out as the Markets in Crypto‑Assets Act (MCAA) took effect, aligning Maltese law with the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation (MiCA). To complement these measures, Malta offers several financing programs aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and young tech startups. These include: The Startup Finance Scheme, which offers up to EUR 1.5 million per startup; the Seed Investment Scheme, providing angel investors up to 35% in tax credits when they invest in qualifying startups; and The EUR 10 million Malta Venture Capital Fund, launched in 2024 to support Maltese high-growth ventures. These initiatives demonstrates a strong, state-backed commitment to regulatory clarity, closing the funding gap, and securing the ecosystem’s long‑term success. Malta’s fintech landscape This supportive environment has nurtured a dynamic and diverse fintech sector that includes large corporations, niche players, and startups. While exact numbers are unavailable, industry observers estimate more than 36 electronic money institutions (EMIs) and over 30 payment service providers (PSPs) operating in Malta, making the payment category one of the most developed in the country. Home-grown leaders include Papaya, an EMI offering digital banking and payment solutions, including IBAN accounts and Mastercard-linked services; SysPay, which provides modular payment services, including card processing, secure payment links, and anti-fraud tools for e-commerce and merchants; and Truevo Payments, a payment acquirer and PSP. Other key cluster strengths include banking, platforms for anti-money laundering and know-your-customer (AML/KYC) compliance, risk and asset management, insurtech, and digital identity management. Some of the established fintech brands in Malta, Source: FinanceMalta, 2025 Several foreign fintech companies have also chosen Malta as their European hub because of its fintech‑friendly regulatory framework, well‑connected, supportive ecosystem, and “passporting” benefits across the EU. US-based cryptocurrency exchange Gemini relocated its European headquarters to Malta in 2025, choosing it over Ireland as its core hub for European compliance under MiCA. Similarly, crypto exchange and Web3 tech company OKX designated Malta as its regionally hub in 2024, citing the country’s strong infrastructure and and clear regulatory framework for blockchain and crypto activities. Furthermore, Malta’s strong diplomatic ties, particularly with African nations, create additional opportunities for companies seeking to serve fast‑growing markets, while allowing them to operate from within the EU, according to FinanceMalta, the organization that promotes Malta as an international financial center. Malta’s growing fintech landscape builds upon a robust financial services sector, which provides stability, expertise, and operational partnerships crucial for scaling digital finance operations. In 2025, the industry accounted for 8.2% of the country’s real gross value added (GVA), and employed more than 14,700 individuals, according to the MFSA. The figure represents about 5% of Malta’s total employed population, underscoring the sector’s importance to Malta’s overall economy. Since 2020, the sector’s workforce has grown by 21.6%, a sign of sustained demand and investor interest.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by farknot via Freepik The post Fintech in Malta: 2026 Market Overview appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The eighth Hong Kong-Switzerland Financial Dialogue took place in Bern, Switzerland, on 29 January. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) under the Federal Department of Finance of Switzerland co‑organised the event. The Dialogue aims to support cooperation in financial services between Hong Kong and Switzerland. It also provides a forum for exchanging views on key issues in the global financial system. The meeting was chaired by Darryl Chan, Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA. Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary of the SIF, also chaired the session. Representatives from the Swiss National Bank, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, and the HKMA attended. Discussions focused on regional and domestic economic outlooks, policy challenges, and recent developments. The participants also explored potential areas of collaboration in sustainable finance, fintech, and market connectivity. After the Dialogue, the Swiss Bankers Association and the Hong Kong Private Wealth Management Association co‑hosted a financial seminar for the private sector. Participants exchanged views on financial trends in Switzerland and Hong Kong, including the use of AI in banking, digital assets, and cross-border opportunities and challenges. The seminar also considered ways to strengthen future collaboration.     Featured image credit: HKMA This article first appeared on Fintech News Hong Kong The post Hong Kong and Switzerland Discuss Fintech, Sustainability and Market Connectivity appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nu has received conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a de novo national bank, Nubank, N.A. The approval is part of Nu’s strategy to expand its operations and product offerings in the US. Once fully authorised, the bank charter will enable Nu to offer deposit accounts, credit cards, and lending services. It will also allow the company to provide digital asset custody under a federal framework. David Vélez “This approval isn’t just an expansion of our operation; it’s an opportunity to prove our thesis that a digital-first, customer-centric model is the future of financial services globally. While we remain fully focused on our core markets in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, this step allows us to build the next generation of banking in the US,” said David Vélez, founder and CEO of Nu Holdings. The US organisation will be led by co-founder Cristina Junqueira, who has relocated to the US. Roberto Campos Neto, former President of the Central Bank of Brazil, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Nu has entered the bank organisation phase, during which it will meet OCC conditions and seek approvals from the FDIC and Federal Reserve. The company plans to capitalise the institution within 12 months and open the bank within 18 months. Nu submitted its OCC application on 30 September 2025. The approval follows Nu’s regulatory track record in Latin America. Nu Mexico received authorisation from the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores in April 2025, and Nu Brazil has operated as a regulated bank since 2016.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mangpor2004 via Freepik The post Nu Cleared for US Bank Launch by OCC appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin have been raided by officials as part of a money laundering inquiry. According to the BBC, the Office of the Federal Prosecutor said it was investigating “unknown individuals and employees” at Germany’s largest bank. The probe involves the Federal Criminal Police Office. The prosecutor said Deutsche Bank had previously conducted business with foreign companies that investigators suspect were used for money laundering. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson confirmed that searches had taken place at its premises. “No further information can be provided regarding the background of the business relationships, the transactions processed through Deutsche Bank AG, their scope, or the companies themselves,” the prosecutor’s office said. German media reports have suggested possible links to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. His lawyers describe these claims as “entirely false and inaccurate”. A legal representative told the BBC that Abramovich has “no connection” to the raids. They added: “The searches conducted this week relate solely to Deutsche Bank’s alleged failure to comply with statutory reporting obligations under Germany’s anti-money laundering framework. They have nothing to do with Abramovich, whose name was only used as a way to draw media attention to the investigation. This is unacceptable and Abramovich reserves all his rights in the matter.” Abramovich, sanctioned by the UK and EU in March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, made his fortune in oil and gas. Authorities allege that he has strong ties to President Vladimir Putin, which he denies. This is not Deutsche Bank’s first raid. Authorities searched Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt headquarters and five other offices in 2018 during a money laundering investigation. That probe focused on activities between 2013 and early 2018. Authorities examined whether staff helped clients set up offshore accounts to “transfer money from criminal activities.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra via Unsplash The post Deutsche Bank Raided in German Money Laundering Probe appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

AI’s been reshaping financial services for several years now. But as its digital adoption accelerates, one factor determines whether AI extracts value or adds complexity: choosing the right partners for specialised applications. According to McKinsey, while AI tools are now widespread, most organisations have not embedded them deeply into their workflows, limiting their ability to generate impact at the enterprise level. The right AI fit has the capability to unlock something powerful, like transforming financial systems into agile, high-performance engines that respond as instantly as a digital-native platform. On the flip side, AI trained on flawed data and assumptions festers old problems, snowballing inefficiencies into systemic risk rather than eliminating them. The real challenge, therefore, lies in the incentives behind AI, and the partnerships that shape how AI is designed, trained, and deployed across financial systems. It is at this intersection that Huawei created the Huawei RONGHAI Financial Partner Program. Designed to bridge foundational infrastructure with specialised financial applications, the program has grown to more than 150 partners worldwide. Roger Wang, the Director of the Partner Development Department at Huawei Digital Finance BU, and Wizard He, the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Netis Technologies, sat down with Fintech News Network’s Chief Editor, Vincent Fong, to unravel how the Huawei RONGHAI Financial Partner Program is enabling AI-infused finance applications that are innovative, stable, and scalable in production. Cultivating the Power of Chemistry Through Partnerships The traditional vendor-client relationship is evolving. Huawei is cultivating what Roger Wang, Director of Partner Development at Huawei’s Digital Finance BU, refers to as an ecosystem where value is created by the “chemistry” between its partners. @fintechnewsnetwork Huawei’s RongHai is a game changer for digital finance and AI @Huawei #fintech #AI #digitalfinance #fyp #Banking ♬ original sound – Fintech News Network – Fintech News Network The idea of the RONGHAI program spawned from a hard reality check. Despite being a large company with substantial experience accumulated over the past decade, Roger shares that it was not enough to deliver digital transformation in its entirety. He explained, Roger Wang “We came to realise that we need to build an ecosystem with a lot of excellent technology partners, so we can build end-to-end capabilities throughout the digital transformation journey that shortens the time and effort that our customers need to spend.” That urgency is driven by how quickly financial services are changing. Traditionally, banks could afford to spend years modernising core systems. That timeline no longer matches how fast customer behaviour, competition, and business models are evolving. From a CEO’s perspective, waiting for years is no longer acceptable nor feasible today. Source: Huawei Through close collaboration between Huawei and its technology partners, those timelines have been dramatically compressed. Roger shares, “In the Philippines, we did a whole banking transformation in less than 10 months. This gave us the inspiration that core banking is just a corner of digital transformation, and we needed to build all of these capabilities. It gave us the idea to launch a new program (RONGHAI), attracting competent partners to work with us, and then supporting our customers in a different way.” Why Specialised Partnerships Will Define the Future of Banking For Wizard He, an AI expert with over two decades of experience under his belt, the value of the RONGHAI program lies in its ability to provide end-to-end solutions to banking customers. Netis, as a partner, does comprehensive AI visibility for banks. Having worked with Huawei across multiple markets, Wizard describes RONGHAI as an operating model that allows banks to move faster without sacrificing stability. One of Netis’ earliest engagements under this model began in Singapore. A leading bank embarked on a digital transformation initiative, codenamed “Gandalf”. The objective was to learn from digital-native technology leaders (think Google, Amazon, Netflix and the like) and translate that agility into a regulated banking environment. In that journey, Wizard explained, Netis and Huawei collaborated closely to ensure there were no surprises. Huawei anchored the transformation with a stable technology foundation, while Netis focused on delivering agility at the application layer. Wizard He “Huawei also has a huge global expansion network. They connect to different continents and leverage this network as the owner and member of RONGHAI.” Crucially, Wizard emphasised that the strength of the RONGHAI program lies in how specialised partners come together as a system rather than operating in silos. In core banking projects, for example, Huawei works alongside core banking vendors and software partners to deliver transformation, agility and resilience, all at the same time. “It’s like a triangle,” Wizard explained. “Huawei has different product portfolios. They have ICT infrastructures, computing, storage network, Huawei cloud and the GPU. So if you work with Huawei, problems, especially related to technology, can be solved.” Huawei’s dedicated partner management model further accelerates this process, enabling partners to understand the strengths of all the technologies, deploy faster, and scale with confidence. Wizard shares his benefits as a partner to the program: “We collaborated with Huawei and extended to five different continents, and shared our experience from one to many.” How Huawei Curated 150+ High-Performance Partnerships With more than 150 companies already onboard, the RONGHAI ecosystem is intentionally selective. Roger explains that what matters most is how well partners can contribute to a coherent and high-performing ecosystem. As more partners come together, new synergies begin to emerge organically. Maintaining quality and consistency at scale, however, requires discipline. Entry into the program is therefore guided by three core criteria. “We need to see how creative that partner is in terms of technology, applications and real use cases they create. The second (criterion) is about speed, on how quickly you can evolve your product based on a specific customer.” The third criterion is platform readiness. Huawei remains deeply committed to its infrastructure layer, and partners must, in turn, be able to deploy their applications efficiently on that foundation. By ensuring partners can land solutions quickly and scale them across markets, RONGHAI turns collaboration from a loose network into a governed ecosystem capable of delivering enterprise-grade AI adoption at scale. Watch as Roger Wang and Wizard He talk about why scaling AI in finance requires curated partnerships, execution, and ecosystem design. Catch the full conversation on how the Huawei RONGHAI program is shaping the future of AI-infused finance below. Featured image by Fintech News Singapore The post Scaling AI in Finance Starts With Trust, Infrastructure and Execution. Huawei Shows How appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Die Hochschule Luzern (HSLU) hat zum zweiten Mal den Kantonalen Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) erstellt, neu zusammen mit dem Eidgenössischen Institut für Geistiges Eigentum. Erstmals können Grossregionen miteinander verglichen werden, und jeder Kanton wird in einem übersichtlichen Profil einzeln dargestellt. Die Schweiz belegt bei internationalen Kreativitäts- und Innovationsrankings regelmässig Spitzenplätze. Doch wie sieht es innerhalb des Landes bei den einzelnen Kantonen aus? Der Kantonale Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) liefert in einem umfassenden Ranking Antworten auf diese Frage und kann unter www.kiki-icic.ch heruntergeladen werden. Rangliste der Grossregionen Breit abgestützte Methodik Der KIKI orientiert sich am Global Innovation Index (GII) und besteht aus unterschiedlichen Indikatoren, die in «Input» und «Output» gruppiert werden. Inputfaktoren sind solche, welche Innovation und Kreativität begünstigen, während Outputfaktoren die Wirkung von Innovation und Kreativität messen (weitere Details siehe Kasten). Als Datenquellen dienen unter anderem das Eidgenössische Institut für Geistiges Eigentum (IGE), das Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS), die Eidgenössische Finanzverwaltung (EFV), die Innovationsagentur des Bundes Innosuisse und die OECD. Kanton Zug erneut Spitzenreiter Rangliste der Kantone Wie in der ersten Ausgabe des KIKI 2025 dominieren auch in der zweiten die Kantone Zug, Basel-Stadt und Zürich die drei vorderen Ränge. Während Zug seine Spitzenposition durch exzellente Werte bei Unternehmensgründungen, Wirtschaftswachstum und unterstützenden Faktoren (u.a. Steueranreize) festigt, besticht Basel-Stadt durch eine herausragende Performance als Kulturmetropole und ist Vorreiter in puncto Diversität. Zürich wiederum überzeugt als ausgeglichener «Allrounder» mit sehr soliden Werten über fast alle Dimensionen hinweg. «Die drei erstplatzierten Kantone tauchen auch in anderen Wirtschaftsrankings ganz vorne auf, was an sich nicht überrascht: Innovationsfähigkeit ist gerade in der Schweiz ein entscheidender Treiber für den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg», sagt Christoph Hauser, Ökonom an der HSLU und Studienautor. Zentralschweiz stark in der Technologie Bern (Platz 20) erreicht bei Forschung, Entwicklung und Wissen ein Niveau auf Augenhöhe mit den Spitzenreitern. In der Nordwestschweiz glänzen neben den beiden Basel (Basel-Stadt auf Platz 2; Basel Landschaft auf Platz 18) auch der Aargau (Platz 19) und Solothurn (Platz 24) mit wettbewerbsfördernden, unterstützenden Faktoren. Und alle haben im Vorjahresvergleich beim Wirtschaftswachstum zugelegt, ausser Basel-Stadt. Die Zentralschweiz präsentiert sich als Technologie-Region: Nidwalden (Platz 12) erreicht knapp vor Zug dank globaler Industrie-Leuchttürme den ersten Rang bei Patenten, Marken und Designs. Luzern (Platz 15) verbucht dank verbesserter steuerlicher Rahmenbedingungen (Patentbox) deutliche Gewinne im Bereich Umfeld und gehört bei Bildung und Bildungserfolg zu den Besten. Obwalden (Platz 14) überzeugt mit einer hohen Forschungsintensität. Schwyz (Platz 9) punktet beim Umfeld und bei Unternehmen und Start-ups stark, auch dank exzellenter steuerlicher Rahmenbedingungen. Uri (Platz 26) beweist mit einer hohen Gründungsdynamik, dass unternehmerische Vitalität keine Frage der Grösse ist. «Kleine Kantone können mit ihrem eigenen Charakter oder einer Nischenstrategie ebenfalls erfolgreich sein. Uri zum Beispiel positioniert sich mit seiner Agilität und der Lage an der Nord-Süd-Achse», so Christoph Hauser. Jura macht grossen Sprung In der Romandie überzeugen Genf (Platz 4) und Waadt (Platz 6) mit einem innovationsfreundlichen Umfeld und hoher Start-up-Dynamik. Neuenburg (Platz 5) bestätigt seine historische Stärke als «Watch Valley» und gehört bei Patenten, Marken und Designs schweizweit zur Spitze. Der Jura (Platz 10) konnte sich insgesamt deutlich verbessern und profitiert ebenfalls von einer hohen Dichte an Patenten. «Jura konnte gleich bei drei von acht Säulen deutlich zulegen. Bei Patenten, Marken und Designs, bei Unternehmen und Start-ups sowie beim Wirtschaftswachstum zeigen die letzten Daten deutlich bessere Werte als noch vor einem Jahr», sagt Christoph Hauser. Freiburg (Platz 22) und das Wallis (Platz 16) konnten insbesondere im Bereich Wissen und Bildung wichtige Fortschritte erzielen. Graubünden punktet bei der Diversität Das Tessin liegt insgesamt auf dem siebten Rang, was auch seiner Dynamik im Wirtschaftswachstum zu verdanken ist, bei dem der Südkanton den zweiten Rang belegt. Gleich danach auf Rang acht überzeugt Schaffhausen mit einem breit abgestützten Profil und starken Verbesserungen bei Patenten, Marken und Designs. Der Thurgau (Platz 23) wächst solide und hat gute Werte bei der Bildung, während St. Gallen (Platz 17) zusätzlich als Forschungsstandort punktet und im Bereich Wissen den siebten Rang belegt. Graubünden (Platz 13) konnte seine Position im Ranking verbessern und punktet bei Diversität und Bildung. Glarus (Platz 25) konnte bei Wissen und Kreation zulegen, während die beiden Appenzell ihre Nischen finden: Appenzell Innerrhoden (Platz 11) überzeugt mit hohen Werten bei unterstützenden Faktoren und Patenten, Marken und Designs, während Appenzell Ausserrhoden (Platz 21) eine solide Basis in Bildung, Wissen und unterstützenden Faktoren zeigt. Bei den Grossregionen liegt Zürich vorne Der KIKI 2026 geografisch abgebildet Neu wurden dieses Jahr auch Grossregionen miteinander verglichen: Die Region Zürich, die einwohnerstärkste Grossregion der Schweiz, steht an erster Stelle, gefolgt von der Genferseeregion, dem Tessin und der Zentralschweiz. Die Nordwestschweiz liegt dicht dahinter, während die Ostschweiz und der Espace Mittelland deutlicher auf den hinteren Plätzen liegen. Christoph Hauser erklärt das überraschend gute Abschneiden des Südkantons: «Das Tessin zeigt sich bei Wirtschaftswachstum, Unternehmen und Start-ups dynamisch und überholt dadurch die in sich verschiedenen Regionen Zentralschweiz und Nordwestschweiz.» Insgesamt zeichnet der KIKI ein differenziertes Bild der Schweizer Innovationslandschaft: Jeder Kanton beziehungsweise jede Region hat unterschiedliche Stärken und weist Besonderheiten auf. Diese haben vielfältige Ursachen, etwa günstige geografische Rahmenbedingungen oder weitsichtige politische Entscheidungen in der Vergangenheit. «Der KIKI leistet mehr als eine blosse Bestandsaufnahme: Indem er die Vielschichtigkeit von Innovation und Kreativität aufschlüsselt, liefert er den Kantonen konkrete Ansatzpunkte für ihre Entwicklungsstrategien», sagt Christoph Hauser. Damit die Schweiz auch in Zukunft als innovativstes Land der Welt gilt, ist laut Hauser jeder Kanton gefordert, seine spezifischen Stärken zu nutzen und Beiträge zum nationalen Innovationssystem zu leisten. Die Säulen des Kantonalen Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) Der Kanton Zug im Vergleich der acht Säulen Auf globaler Ebene existiert mit dem Global Innovation Index (GII) bereits seit einigen Jahren ein vergleichbarer Index zum KIKI. Die Schweiz belegt im GII seit über 10 Jahren Platz eins. Der KIKI orientiert sich am GII und besteht aus unterschiedlichen Indikatoren, die in «Input» und «Output» gruppiert werden. Inputfaktoren sind solche, welche Innovation und Kreativität begünstigen, während Outputfaktoren die Wirkung von Innovation und Kreativität messen. Beide Dimensionen enthalten je zwei Untergruppen, nämlich Wissen und Umfeld (Input) sowie Kreation und Wachstum (Output). Diese wiederum enthalten je zwei, also insgesamt acht Säulen (Bildung und Bildungserfolg; Forschung, Entwicklung und Wissen; Diversität; Unterstützende Faktoren; Kunst und Kultur; Patente, Marken und Designs; Unternehmen und Start-ups; Wirtschaftswachstum). Jede Säule berücksichtigt zwischen 8 und 20 Einzelindikatoren, welche schliesslich innerhalb der Säule gleich gewichtet sind. Die Säulen entsprechen wichtigen, in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur bestätigten Input- resp. Outputfaktoren für Innovation und Kreativität. Die KIKI-Studie kann auf der Website http://www.kiki-icic.ch heruntergeladen werden. Dort sind auch die einzelnen Profile der Kantone zu finden.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by iwana.ioana via Freepik The post Kantonaler Innovations-und Kreativitätsindex: Welche Kantone sind innovativ? appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nordic challenger bank Lunar has announced a €46 million capital increase to expand its business banking, develop its lending offerings, and support growth across the Nordics. The funding round, led by a combination of existing and new investors, will support Lunar’s expansion into Norway and Finland, alongside scaling its business banking and lending operations. Lunar aims to grow while pursuing profitability in 2026. Ken Villum Klausen “The new capital allows us to continue scaling what already works for consumer and business banking while increasing our footprint across the Nordics. We’ve already come a long way, but we are focused on unlocking a significantly larger opportunity for Lunar while reaching profitability in 2026,” said Ken Villum Klausen, founder and CEO of Lunar. The round attracted interest from existing investors, including Heartland and Orbit Alliance, and introduces 100A, a London-based fintech investor focused on Series A and later-stage funding. Klausen said the backing from existing investors “means a great deal” and that the new investor shows renewed market confidence. Lunar currently serves over one million users in the Nordics, with a growing share opting for paid products. Its banking licence and proprietary infrastructure also support Moonrise, its payments and banking services platform, positioning the company to expand beyond consumer and SME banking.     Featured image credit: Lunar The post Lunar Raises €46 Million to Expand Nordic Banking and Lending appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU. The company also confirmed plans to establish its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria. This move is part of preparations to operate under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The regulation aims to standardise governance, user protection, and operational resilience across the sector. Stauber brings extensive regulatory, legal, and executive experience in digital assets and financial services. He was previously Managing Director and CEO of KuCoin EU in Vienna. He also held senior roles including Chief Legal Officer at Bitpanda. There, he oversaw legal, regulatory, and compliance functions, as well as licensing and supervisory engagement across multiple jurisdictions. Stauber said, Oliver Stauber “MiCAR is resetting expectations for how digital-asset services are governed in Europe. This covers risk controls, disclosures, and operational discipline. Our HQ in Vienna will build a regulated, scalable setup. It will serve EEA users reliably by offering secure and efficient digital transactions. The platform will be supported by robust risk controls, transparent operations, and a strong commitment to user protection and regulatory standards.” The Austrian headquarters will focus on regulatory engagement, internal controls, and compliance across the European Economic Area. It will prioritise operational transparency and alignment with evolving supervisory standards.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by FestArt via Freepik The post Bitget Appoints Oliver Stauber as CEO for New EU Headquarters in Vienna appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

OKX has launched the OKX Card in Europe, enabling users to pay with stablecoins at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. Unlike traditional crypto cards that require preloading or conversions, the OKX Card converts stablecoins at the point of purchase and offers instant crypto rewards of up to 20% on eligible transactions. The card operates on onchain self-custody, meaning stablecoins remain in the user’s wallet until the moment of payment. Users can spend via mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, in-store or online, with zero transaction or foreign exchange fees, and a market spread of 0.4% when converting to Euro. Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe, said: Erald Ghoos “With OKX Card, we’re making it simple for anyone in Europe to use crypto for real-world purchases, instantly, securely, and transparently. Crypto was originally conceived as a means of payment and with OKX Card our users can turn this vision into reality.” Users earn crypto rewards instantly, with VIP rewards offering up to 20% back and regular rewards up to 15% for 30-day periods.       Featured image credit: OKX The post OKX Rolls Out European Card for Direct Stablecoin Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut has officially ended its Beta phase in Mexico, launching full banking operations through Revolut Bank S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple. This is its first bank outside Europe and brings Revolut’s presence to 40 countries. The bank obtained a Mexican banking license independently and capitalised its operations with over US$100 million, more than double the regulatory minimum. This gives a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 447.2% at launch. Revolut Bank has received strong initial credit ratings. HR Ratings assigned long-term ratings of HR AAA and short-term ratings of HR+1. S&P National Ratings gave long-term issuer ratings of ‘mxA+’ and short-term ratings of ‘mxA-1’. All ratings have a Stable Outlook. They reflect confidence in the bank’s capital strength, liquidity, and the backing of Revolut Group. Nik Storonsky, Revolut’s co-founder and CEO, said, Nikolay Storonsky “Revolut’s technology will empower millions across Mexico with better financial tools. This launch is a blueprint for expansion into other high-growth markets. We are confident in replicating this success on our journey to reach over 100 million daily active customers in 100 countries.” The bank offers savings accounts with competitive yields, borderless spending in over 30 currencies, low-cost international transfers, bill payments, and joint accounts for shared expenses. Family accounts for children aged 6-17 will be launched soon. Additional features include premium subscription plans, gift cards, and rewards redeemable for travel or shopping.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Kajikom via Freepik The post Revolut Launches Full Banking Operations in Mexico appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

FiveT Fintech has appointed Mathias Brenner and Tobias Haeckermann as Growth Partners. The pair co-founded Sherpany, a meeting management platform that grew to serve over 450 enterprise clients, including Raiffeisen, Zurich Insurance, and Julius Baer, before its acquisition by Datasite in 2024. In their new roles, Brenner and Haeckermann will work directly with FiveT Fintech’s portfolio companies, primarily B2B software businesses serving financial services, to support growth, refine go-to-market strategies, and scale operations. The appointments coincide with the firm’s second fund, which targets Series A and later-stage companies developing software for financial services and related enterprise sectors. FiveT Fintech’s approach leverages relationships with Swiss and European financial institutions to validate market demand prior to investment and focuses on off-market opportunities, including secondaries and carve-outs. FiveT Fintech’s first fund, launched in 2020, has returned more than two-thirds of capital to investors through exits including Metaco (acquired by Ripple) and Assetmax (acquired by Infront), placing it among the top-performing venture capital funds globally. Mathias Brenner “FiveT Fintech’s demand-validation model means these companies already have traction with tier-one enterprises,” said Brenner. Tobias Haeckermann “Our role is helping them execute the playbook to scale efficiently.” Haeckermann added: “At Sherpany, we’ve seen the common pitfalls of scaling in financial services: inefficient procurement processes, difficult sales and implementation cycles, complex pricing models. Our focus is helping management teams navigate these specific challenges as they expand across European markets.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by lifeforstock via Freepik The post Mathias Brenner and Tobias Haeckermann Join FiveT Fintech as Growth Partners appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Checkout.com has partnered with Freenow by Lyft, the European taxi app, to manage digital payments across nine European markets. Freenow operates in over 180 cities in Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Austria, and Ireland, offering taxis, private hire vehicles, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, carsharing, and public transport through a single app. Freenow selected Checkout.com for its acquiring technology, ease of integration, and expertise in local payment systems. The partnership covers payment processing across all Freenow’s European markets and provides access to AI-driven transaction insights. These analytics help identify authorisation patterns, optimise payment performance, and improve reliability for millions of users. Checkout.com has also supported Freenow’s post-paid payment model, where payment is taken after a journey. The process can be complex, particularly when initial payment attempts fail. Checkout.com introduced digital wallet options and smarter retry mechanisms to improve collection efficiency and enhance the customer experience. Chris von Rumohr “For Freenow, empowering users with effortless mobility means providing a payment experience that is inherently seamless and dependable,” said Chris von Rumohr, Vice President of Product & Engineering Fintech at Freenow by Lyft. “We chose Checkout.com for its AI-driven optimisations, high payment performance and strong local payment processing capabilities across Europe. The team took the time to understand the unique challenges of operating in the enterprise mobility market and delivered solutions that fit our needs exactly.” Antoine Nougué “Freenow by Lyft is a leader in the European taxi and mobility market, and we’re proud to partner with them as they continue to scale across Europe,” said Antoine Nougué, Chief Revenue Officer at Checkout.com. “Payments serve as a critical backbone for delivering smooth, reliable passenger experiences. By strengthening the resilience of Freenow’s payment flows and supporting complex post-paid journey models, we’re helping power their growth in the mobility ecosystem.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mkmult via Freepik The post Checkout.com to Handle Payments for Freenow Across Nine European Markets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Global X ETFs Europe, a provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has announced the appointment of Gea Blumberg as Head of Business Development and Co-Head of Global X ETFs Europe. She will work alongside George Taylor, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Head of Global X ETFs Europe. Blumberg and Taylor will jointly shape the company’s strategic direction, with a focus on addressing the needs of both existing and prospective clients. In her role, Blumberg will oversee client-facing teams across sales, marketing, communications and investment strategy. She will be based in Germany. Global X ETFs Europe reported significant growth over the past year, with assets under management increasing from approximately US$2 billion to more than US$7 billion as of January 2026. The appointment comes amid rising demand from both institutional and retail investors. Gea Blumberg “Since entering the European market in 2020, Global X ETFs has introduced a range of distinctive solutions for European investors and established itself as a recognised participant in the European ETF market,” Blumberg said. “I am pleased to be joining Global X at this stage and to be part of the team supporting the next phase of the company’s development.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by masaideeabdulkoday70 via Freepik The post Global X ETFs Europe Appoints Gea Blumberg as Head of Business Development and Co-Head appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

NCR Atleos has appointed Rohan Pal as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Pal has more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership and digital transformation, with a background in IT modernisation, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and digital product development. His appointment comes as Atleos continues to focus on service delivery, automation and growth. Before joining Atleos, Pal was Chief Technology Officer at WillScot, where he led changes to the company’s technology strategy, including the use of AI to improve operations. He previously served as Chief Transformation Officer at ServiceNow, advising customers and boards on digital transformation initiatives. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles across fintech, manufacturing and product transformation at organisations including Brinks, Tyco, HD Supply and Home Depot. Rohan Pal “I am joining Atleos at a pivotal time,” Pal said. “I look forward to working with the team to advance digital transformation and support our customers’ needs.” Pal holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Strategy from Georgia Tech, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from St. Mary’s University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Trinity University.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by noob via Freepik The post NCR Atleos Appoints Rohan Pal as Chief Information Officer appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

McLaren Racing has entered a multi-year partnership with Hedera Foundation to use the Hedera public network for decentralised applications. Hedera will be an Official Partner of both the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. The collaboration will connect racing operations with Web3 infrastructure, providing fans with digital experiences and officially licensed activations. McLaren Racing’s first initiative on Hedera will be a digital collectibles programme, with free-to-claim items released during F1 Grand Prix weekends. Arrow McLaren IndyCar digital collectibles will also return for the 2026 season, including experiences, prizes, and incentives for fans. Hedera branding will appear on McLaren’s Formula 1 car and driver race suits, as well as the No. 6 and No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolets and team kit. Nick Martin, Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing, said: Nick Martin “Innovation off the track is just as important as performance on it. Partnering with Hedera allows us to deliver Web3 experiences for our fans. We’re excited to welcome Hedera to the McLaren family as we continue to push boundaries on and off the track.”     Featured image credit: McLaren Racing The post McLaren Racing Partners with Hedera Foundation for Web3 Initiatives appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.