US banking giant Citigroup has revised its 2030 forecast for the global stablecoin industry, citing strong market growth, accelerated adoption, and conducive regulatory developments. In a new outlook report, released in September 2025, the bank increased its base case forecast to US$1.9 trillion, up from the US$1.6 trillion it predicted in April 2025. It also lifted its bull case prediction from US$3.7 trillion to US$4 trillion, and its bear case to US$0.9 trillion, up from US$0.541 trillion. These increases reflect stronger adoption trends than previously anticipated, including new favorable regulations, increased institutional acceptance, and soaring transaction volumes across real-world applications. Estimating stablecoin market size by 2030 (US$ billion), Source: Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street, Citi Institute Global Perspectives and Solutions, Sep 2025 Citigroup attributes almost half of its US$1.9 trillion base case stablecoin issuance forecast to deposit substitution in the US and overseas. It models stablecoin demand equivalent to 2.5% of 2030 US bank system deposits driven by the growth of digitally native companies, including e-commerce, promoting stablecoins as a means of payments and an in-platform token. Furthermore, the base case assumes a continuation of the crypto-related stablecoin issuance run rate observed over the past three years, or approximately 20% annually. The bull case, on the other hand, projects a faster annual growth trajectory of 30%, driven by increasing regulatory clarity and rising allocation of institutional capital into cryptocurrency assets. Additionally, the forecast assumes 10% substitution of US banknotes held overseas into stablecoins. It references this to the experience of gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which capture nearly 8% of the investible gold bars and coins market by offering a lower-friction investment vehicle. Stablecoin market size in 2030 (projection), Source: Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street, Citi Institute Global Perspectives and Solutions, Sep 2025 Market growth and momentum Over the past six months, momentum in the global stablecoin market has accelerated, with issuance volumes growing over 20% during the period and rising by nearly 40% year-to-date (YTD). Issuance volumes currently stand at about US$280 billion, compared with US$200 billion at the start of the year. Stablecoin supply, 2020-2025, Source: Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street, Citi Institute Global Perspectives and Solutions, Sep 2025 Stablecoin transaction volumes are also surging. Once negligible, these digital currencies now measure in the trillions of dollars annually, scaling rapidly compared to other traditional payment systems. On an adjusted basis, stablecoin volumes are running close to US$1 trillion per month in August 2025, nearly double the levels from just a year ago, the Citigroup report says. Stablecoin transaction volume versus other modes (US$ billion), Source: Stablecoins 2030: Web3 to Wall Street, Citi Institute Global Perspectives and Solutions, Sep 2025 Though stablecoin transaction volumes are still largely driven by crypto trading and related activities, these digital currencies are rapidly being adopted across cross-border payments, peer-to-peer (P2P) remittances, business-to-business (B2B) payments, and treasury management. Factors driving stablecoin interest Soaring stablecoin issuance and transaction volumes are being fueled by increased integration by payment networks, developments in layer-1 blockchains, and regulatory clarity in key markets, including the US and the European Union (EU). In July 2025, Paul S. Atkins, the chairman of the US’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unveiled Project Crypto, a commission-wide effort to modernize US securities regulation for digital assets. This initiative aims to implement recommendations from the President’s Working Group Report on Digital Asset Markets and seeks to establish a clear regulatory framework to classify crypto tokens as security, commodity, or others. One of the proposals includes a unified licensing regime that would allow firms to offer a full suite of crypto financial services, such as trading, staking, and lending. In the EU, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) entered into force in 2024, marking the first comprehensive crypto framework introduced by a major global economy. Key components of MiCA include licensing requirements for crypto-asset service providers, specific travel requirements, as well as rules covering the treatment of stablecoins. In Asia and the Middle East, the central banks are building regulatory sandboxes and licensing regimes for stablecoin providers, setting the stage for further institutional adoption. For example, Hong Kong introduced licensing rules for stablecoins in August 2025 to help strengthen trust, transparency, and oversight. Beyond regulations, other factors driving mainstream interest in stablecoins and on-chain money include increased integration of stablecoins by payment networks, including Visa and Mastercard, the introduction of tokenized deposits by banking institutions like JP Morgan and HSBC, as well as growth in tokenized financial assets. The market for tokenized assets, which involves using digital tokens recorded on a blockchain to represent ownership rights, is currently estimated at US$600 billion. Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Ripple expect the market to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53% through 2033, and reach US$18.9 trillion by then.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Citigroup Raises 2030 Stablecoin Forecasts Amid Strong Market Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Zurich-based YAPEAL has announced changes to its Board of Directors following the company’s General Assembly on 3 October. The company offers a digital-first platform providing integrated financial services to businesses and their end customers. As part of the regular renewal process, Board Members Werner Vontobel and François Rüf have stepped down. Eva Künzi has been newly elected as an independent member of the Board. Werner Vontobel, who served as Chairman of the Board until March 2025 and subsequently as a member, played a significant role in shaping the company over several years, including the establishment of YAPEAL’s governance and compliance structures. Eva Künzi brings extensive experience in legal, regulatory, and compliance matters and joins the Board as an independent member, ensuring continuity in these areas. François Rüf contributed to YAPEAL with his technical expertise and entrepreneurial experience. The Board continues to maintain strong technical competence through members including Stephan Murer, former CTO of UBS, and Christoph Burkhard, an experienced software entrepreneur. Dominik Bollier “We sincerely thank Werner Vontobel and François Rüf for their tireless dedication and major contributions to YAPEAL’s development,” said Dominik Bollier, Chairman of the Board. “They not only accompanied the company through decisive phases but, with their knowledge, experience, and personal commitment, helped to shape important strategic directions for the future. With Eva Künzi, we are gaining a recognised expert in Legal & Compliance who will help us successfully navigate the next stages of growth.” Founded in 2018, YAPEAL is a holder of Switzerland’s first fintech license issued by FINMA.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mkmult via Freepik The post YAPEAL Appoints Eva Künzi in Board Restructuring appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Checkout.com has entered a multi-year technology collaboration with Microsoft to enhance its payment infrastructure using Microsoft Azure’s cloud platform. Under the agreement, Checkout.com will migrate its core systems to Azure to improve the speed, security, and scalability of digital payments for its enterprise clients, which include eBay, ASOS, Vinted, Pinterest, and Klarna. The partnership supports both companies’ efforts to advance innovation and trust in the digital economy. Checkout.com’s AI-powered Intelligent Acceptance technology, which optimises payments in real time, will continue to help merchants improve acceptance rates, reduce costs, and increase revenue. Mariano Albera, Chief Technology Officer at Checkout.com, said: Mariano Albera “The Azure platform has leading machine learning capabilities, and Microsoft has long been a pioneer of embedding trust into every layer of cloud innovation so that organisations can build, run and scale critical workloads with absolute confidence.” Tyler Pichach, Global Head of Payments at Microsoft Financial Services, added: Tyler Pichach “The payments industry is a constant source of AI-powered innovation, and by collaborating and co-innovating with Microsoft, Checkout.com will be able to further enhance payment performance for merchants around the world.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Checkout.com to Use Microsoft Azure to Strengthen Payments Infrastructure appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

OpenAI has acquired Roi, a company founded three years ago with the goal of making investing more accessible through personalised financial technology. TechCrunch reports that only the start-up’s co-founder and CEO, Sujith Vishwajith, will join the Open AI team through the acquisition. Roi was established to build tools that tailor investment experiences to individual users. Over time, the company identified that personalisation extends beyond finance and plays a broader role in how software can adapt to people’s needs. The acquisition marks a new phase for Roi as its team joins OpenAI to continue developing its work on personalised technology within a larger AI-focused environment. In a post on X, Sujith said, Sujith Vishwajith “It was grateful to its users, investors, and supporters who contributed to its progress over the past three years.”           Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post OpenAI Acquires Personalised Investing Platform Roi appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Soaring cryptocurrency prices over the past year have pushed the number of crypto millionaires to a record of 241,000 individuals worldwide as of July 2025, marking a remarkable 40% year-over-year (YoY) increase, according to a new report by British investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners. The report, which is based on in-house wealth tier models and open-source information from CoinMarketCap, Binance, BscScan, and Etherscam, also found significant increases in the number of crypto centi-millionaires and crypto billionaires. As of mid-2025, 450 individuals held US$100 million or more worth of crypto, up 38% YoY, while the number of individuals holding US$1 billion or more rose 29% YoY to 36. Worldwide crypto wealth statistics, Source: Crypto Wealth Report 2025, Henley & Partners, Sep 2025 This surge coincides with a broad rally in crypto markets. Over the past year, Bitcoin (BTC) nearly doubled in value, climbing from about US$63,000 to US$125,000, data from CoinGecko show. Similarly, Ether (ETH) gained 92% during the same period, soaring from about US$2,430 to US$4,690. Overall, total crypto market capitalization reached a record of US$4.3 trillion in early October 2025, reflecting a 91% YoY increase. Crypto trading volumes also surged, with total activity across centralized exchanges hitting a yearly peak of US$9.72 trillion in August 2025, rising 7.58% month-over-month (MoM), according to CoinDesk Data’s August 2025 Exchange Review. This growth was driven by derivatives trading, which jumped 7.92% to US$7.36 trillion and now accounts for 75.7% of all centralized exchange activity. Spot trading volumes also posted solid gains, climbing 6.55% to US$2.36 trillion in the market’s strongest showing since January. Monthly spot and derivatives crypto volume, Source: CoinDesk Data, Sep 2025 Booming crypto adoption among retail and institutions The boom in crypto prices parallels strong growth in crypto adoption across both retail and institutional markets. According to Triple-A, a licensed crypto payment service provider from Singapore, the number of crypto owners grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 99% between 2018 to 2023. Growth has expanded more moderately since but remains nevertheless robust, with crypto ownership rising by 34% between 2023 and 2024, increasing from 420 million to 562 million. These growth rates far exceeds those of traditional payment methods, which expanded at an average of 8% annually between 2018 and 2023. Growth of crypto owners compared to traditional payment methods, Source: Triple-A, 2024 Between 2024 and 2025, crypto adoption was the strongest in Asia-Pacific (APAC), with India, Pakistan and Vietnam ranking among the world’s top five hubs for grassroots crypto activity, according to data from US-based blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. During the 12 months ending June 2025, the region recorded the highest global growth rate, with the value received rising 69% from US$1.4 trillion to US$2.3 trillion. The 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index Top 10, Source: Chainalysis, Sep 2025 Institutional participation is also rising sharply. A survey of 352 institutional investors conducted by Coinbase, in collaboration with EY-Parthenon practice, found that 86% had exposure to digital assets in January 2025, or plan to make digital asset allocations during the year. Nearly 70% viewed cryptocurrencies as the biggest opportunity to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. In which asset classes do you see the biggest opportunities to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns? Source: 2025 Institutional Investor Digital Assets Survey, Coinbase, EY-Parthenon, Mar 2025 The study also revealed expanding participation in crypto markets, including decentralized finance (DeFi) use cases such as staking, lending, and derivatives. While only 24% of institutional investors engaged in DeFi in early 2025, this figure is set to triple to 74% in two years, according to survey respondents. The survey also found a growing appetite to invest in a broader set of assets beyond BTC and ETH, with an increase in interest in other assets including Ripple (XPR) and Solana (SOL). Though BTC (97%) and ETH (86%) remained the dominant holdings among institutional investors, 73% of the surveyed investors owned cryptocurrencies beyond these two assets. Which types of cryptocurrencies is your firm allocated to currently? [n=337] Source: 2025 Institutional Investor Digital Assets Survey, Coinbase, EY-Parthenon, Mar 2025The expansion of the crypto market is supported by several favorable developments. Notably, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act) was signed into law on July 18, 2025, marking the USA’s first major national cryptocurrency legislation. The bill aims to regulate the stablecoin market, creating a clearer framework for banks, companies and other entities to issue digital currencies. These developments are fueling corporate enthusiasm. Companies like Walmart, and Expedia are exploring launching their own stablecoins to streamline global payments, reduce processing fees, and lessen reliance on traditional financial infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reports. Meanwhile, affiliates of banking giants such as JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo are considering launching a joint stablecoin.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Global Crypto Wealth Surges, Driving 40% Increase in Millionaire Count appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

SIX, the operator of the Swiss Stock Exchange, is set to bring its digital asset division, SDX, in-house as it moves closer to becoming a blockchain-based marketplace. In May, it was announced that digital bonds issued on SDX would be traded exclusively on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Regarding equities, SDX supports both private securities and public assets. “Everyone acknowledges that securities and other assets will eventually become digital. Blockchain or distributed ledger technology has emerged as the preferred path to enable digital securities. Today, all exchanges are researching or leveraging the digital asset ecosystem,” the report notes. First reported by Bloomberg, SDX (Six Digital Exchange), the digital asset group founded in 2018, will now be managed by Marco Kessler, who oversees SIX’s Product and Development for Digital Assets, including its post-trade division. The report adds that SDX has now issued around US$3.1 billion of digital bonds, according to Crowfund Insider. When SDX was announced in late 2019, SIX described it as “the world’s first end-to-end platform for digital assets.”   Featured image credit: SIX The post SIX to Bring SDX Digital Asset Platform In-House appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Tap Global Group, a Gibraltar-based digital finance hub that combines money payments and cryptocurrency settlement services in a single app, has announced a strategic partnership with Moorwand, a UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-regulated Electronic Money Institution (EMI). Under this agreement, Tap will integrate Moorwand’s Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform to offer customers dedicated GBP accounts with Sort Codes and Account Numbers, as well as EUR accounts with individual IBANs. The partnership forms a key part of Tap’s strategy to develop what it describes as a “Fintech Super App,” bridging traditional financial systems with the digital asset economy. The integration of Moorwand’s payment infrastructure aims to remove a key friction point for users by reducing reliance on external bank accounts for funding. Customers will be able to receive payments directly from others and top up their Tap accounts without using separate banking platforms. This development is expected to strengthen Tap’s position as a primary financial account provider, enhancing user retention and overall assets under management. The collaboration will also enable faster and more reliable deposits and withdrawals through support for the UK’s Faster Payments system and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). These improvements are designed to enhance the overall user experience by increasing transaction efficiency, reducing delays, and improving platform reliability. Looking ahead, Tap intends to build on this foundation by introducing direct third-party payments, allowing users to receive salaries and other regular payments straight into their Tap accounts. This feature, which will be introduced gradually before a full launch, aims to position Tap as one of the first UK-based crypto-native fintech companies to integrate everyday earnings directly with digital asset functionality. Arsen Torosian, CEO of Tap, said: Arsen Torosian “The Moorwand partnership provides the regulated, scalable infrastructure essential for our next phase of growth and serves as a launchpad for our most transformative feature yet: direct salary deposits. We are not just participating in the future of finance; we are actively building it on a foundation of innovation and regulatory integrity, creating a platform with the potential for scale that is robust, secure, and trusted.” Luc Gueriane, CEO of Moorwand, added: Luc Gueriane “Moorwand’s mission is to transform compliance into an enabler of innovation, and our partnership with Tap is a perfect embodiment of that vision. We are providing the critical, regulated payment infrastructure that allows pioneering companies like Tap to build the next generation of financial services, merging the worlds of payments and digital currencies in a compliant and secure manner.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by nasimabegumbari1968 via Freepik The post Tap to Offer GBP and EUR Accounts Through Moorwand Partnership appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Paris-based cybertech Filigran has completed a Series C funding round worth US$58 million, bringing its total funding to over US$100 million in three years. The round was led by Eurazeo’s Growth team, part of the European investment group Eurazeo, with participation from Deutsche Telekom’s investment arm T.Capital and existing investors Accel and Insight Partners. Following its previous US$35 million round a year ago, the new funding reflects growing global demand for Filigran’s solutions and continued revenue growth. The company plans to use the capital to expand into new regions, including the Pacific and the Middle East, with particular focus on Japan and Saudi Arabia. It will also strengthen its presence in the US and Europe by hiring new talent in France and Germany and enhancing collaboration with its open-source community, which has doubled in size over the past two years. The funds will support the development of OpenGRC, a third module for Filigran’s platform designed to complement its eXtended Threat Management (XTM) suite. The company will also advance its use of AI through the creation of an AI Agent platform, XTM One, and increase R&D efforts across its existing OpenCTI and OpenBAS solutions. Samuel Hassine “This Series C round is an important milestone in Filigran’s journey,” said Samuel Hassine, CEO of Filigran. “It reflects our commitment to enabling organisations to be more proactive against threats and to leverage intelligence at every level of their security strategy.” Founded in 2022 by Samuel Hassine and Julien Richard, Filigran’s XTM suite combines OpenCTI, which structures and operationalises global threat intelligence, and OpenBAS, a security validation platform that identifies vulnerabilities using real-time threat data. Filigran’s solutions are used by companies including Rivian and Bouygues Telecom, as well as public sector organisations such as the European Commission, the FBI, and several US, Australian, and European government agencies.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Who is Danny via Freepik The post Filigran Raises US$58M to Boost Global Cybersecurity Expansion appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Feedzai, an AI-native RiskOps platform for financial crime prevention, has been valued at over US$2 billion following an investment round of approximately US$75 million. The funding round included new institutional investors Lince Capital, Iberis Capital, and Explorer Investments, alongside continued support from Oxy Capital and Buenavista Equity Partners. Nuno Sebastiao “Fraud isn’t just numbers on a balance sheet. It’s families losing their life savings and businesses losing customers. Protecting people and organisations from financial crime is why we built Feedzai. This new investment round enables us to continue driving innovation to defend against whatever comes next,” said Nuno Sebastião, Co-Founder and CEO of Feedzai. Feedzai has evolved into a comprehensive platform for fraud, risk, and anti-money laundering teams, protecting more than US$70 billion in annualised payment volume across card transactions and bill payments. The company has recently launched Feedzai Orchestration and Feedzai IQ, tools designed to support financial institutions in making faster and more precise risk assessments. Over the past year, Feedzai has reported preventing more than US$2 billion in losses and saving over 20 million analyst hours. The company has also introduced the TRUST Framework, embedding responsible design into its generative AI systems to ensure they remain fair, explainable, and secure. Feedzai consolidates multiple financial crime tools into a single platform, addressing inefficiencies caused by disparate systems used across institutions. Its platform now supports a range of financial institution product lines, including bank account openings, credit card transactions, transaction monitoring, and payments.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Feedzai Secures $75M, Valuing AI-led Financial Crime Platform at $2B appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Visa has announced plans to launch a stablecoin prefunding pilot through Visa Direct, its global money movement platform that links more than 11 billion eligible cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets. The initiative aims to provide businesses with a new method to move money internationally, improving liquidity and modernising treasury operations in the digital-first economy. For years, cross-border payments have relied on systems that are often slow and costly, requiring capital to be held in advance. Through this pilot, Visa Direct will test stablecoins as a new funding source, with the goal of reducing friction, enabling quicker access to liquidity, and offering financial institutions greater flexibility in managing global payouts. Chris Newkirk “Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long,” said Chris Newkirk, President, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions at Visa. “Visa Direct’s new stablecoins integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.” The use of stablecoin prefunding could allow businesses to free up capital that would otherwise be tied down in pre-funded fiat accounts, improving liquidity while maintaining coverage for payouts. Institutions would be able to transfer money within minutes rather than days, creating more dynamic and responsive liquidity management. Stablecoins also offer a predictable settlement layer, potentially reducing exposure to currency fluctuations and stabilising treasury operations, all while lowering the cost of increasing pre-funding frequency. Under the pilot, businesses will send Visa stablecoins instead of fiat currency to fund payouts, with Visa treating these stablecoins as equivalent to “money in the bank.” The programme is designed for banks, remittance providers, and other financial institutions seeking faster and more adaptable ways to manage liquidity across borders. Visa is currently working with selected partners that meet the pilot criteria and intends to expand the programme in 2026.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by jadethaicatwalk via Freepik This article first appeared on Fintech News Singapore The post Visa to Pilot Stablecoin Prefunding for Cross-Border Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

This year, the European fintech industry is showing resilience, capturing a growing share of venture capital (VC) funding and recording year-on-year (YoY) increases. In H1 2025, the sector secured a total of EUR 3.6 billion, marking 23% YoY increase from EUR 2.9 billion in H1 2024, according to a new mid-year report by Finch Capital, a UK-based growth investor. Several trends are reshaping the sector, including artificial intelligence (AI) and stablecoins, the report says. Fintech shows resilience In H1 2025, fintech accounted for 23% of all VC and growth funding in Europe, marking a 5-point increase from 18% in H1 2024. This increase confirms the resilience of fintech, the industry’s position as the leading asset class for tech investors, and its role as the backbone of Europe’s tech ecosystem. After a trough in 2024, US investor activity in European fintech is rebounding this year, accounting for 28% of all transactions in H1 2025. Sequoia, a leading VC firm from the US that has backed iconic businesses like Apple, Google, and Airbnb, was the most active VC firm in the sector, with fintech representing 35% of its deal volume, neck-and-neck with UK-based Balderton. They were followed by Atomico, from the UK, and Speedinvest, from Austria, with fintech making up about 26-28% of their investments. Top investors deal volume in the last 6 months, Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025 This year, Europe has yet to see a recovery in deals above EUR 500 million. However, mid-market M&A remains active and presents the biggest potential for fintech startups and scale-ups. Total number of fintech exits in Europe, Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025 This dynamic has created a significant initial public offering (IPO) backlog. Currently, 22 European fintech companies are valued above US$2 billion, including Revolut, Checkout.com, Klarna, Rapyd, and Trade Republic. Together, they hold a combined valuation of US$150 billion. Fintech companies make up about half of Europe’s IPO backlog, compared to US$170 billion for 42 non-fintech firms. IPO backlog value, Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025 AI in financial services Another key trend outlined by Finch Capital is soaring adoption of AI in financial services, particularly in credit scoring, underwriting, and wealth management. According to the report, about 55% of lenders are piloting or scaling AI this year, with adoption projected to rise to nearly 70% by 2026. These players are turning to AI to improve the loan underwriting cycle. Currently, manual loan reviews take an average of 12 days. AI-assisted processes cut that cycle to 6 days, while full AI automation reduces this to just 2.5 days. Wealth managers, meanwhile, are embracing generative AI (genAI) to enhance customer experience and improve operational efficiencies. According to the 2025 EY-Parthenon Wealth and Asset Managers Generative AI Survey, 95% of the 100 wealth and asset managers surveyed are deploying at least three genAI use cases, while 77% of firms have either mandated existing teams to focus on genAI initiatives or have mobilized a team to solely focus on these initiatives. Respondents identified marketing, compliance and risk, and client onboarding as the top areas for genAI deployment. Functions where genAI has the highest impact in wealth and asset management, Source: EY-Parthenon Wealth and Asset managers Generative AI Survey March 2025 (n=100) Despite the momentum, AI fintech remains a nascent sector. Though these companies accounted for 21% of fintech deal volume in H1 2025, they represented just 7% of deal value in H1 2025, reflecting early-stage dynamics. Share of AI and ML in fintech deals, Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025 Payments at a crossroads Another key trend highlighted by Finch Capital is the profound changes taking place in the payment landscape, driven by the rise of stablecoins, and agentic AI. Favorable regulations such as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act), combined with institutional backing from banks and payment firms, are fueling adoption of stablecoins. Stablecoins reached a total supply of US$250 billion in H1 2025, representing 10% of US currency in circulation. Adoption of stablecoins is particularly high in high-inflation economies such as Argentina and Venezuela, where inflation reached 117.8% and 48% in 2024, respectively. In these markets, US-backed stablecoins are being used to preserve savings, facilitate cross-border payments, and avoid government restrictions on buying US dollars. Agentic AI is also reshaping payments, with firms like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal racing to build the agentic payment stack. Within the payment landscape, AI-driven agents are expected to take on tasks such as budgeting, bill payments, and dispute resolution. According to a 2025 BCG consumer survey, 81% of consumers are set to shop using agentic AI. In the coming years, more than US$1 trillion in spending, representing about 50% of total e-commerce expenditure today, could be agent assisted, with early adoption focused on routine purchases such as groceries, restaurant orders, and personal care products. Use of agentic AI for commerce, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025 UK maintains leadership This year, the UK continues to dominant the European fintech landscape, netting 56% of total fintech funding in H1 2025 or just about EUR 2 billion. London alone accounted for 79% of this activity. Payments and wealth management were the leading verticals, with major rounds including Rapyd’s EUR 474 million raise, Dojo’s EUR 168 million growth round, and FNZ’s EUR 460 million round. Rapyd and Dojo are payment service providers, while FNZ is an end-to-end wealth management platform for financial institutions and wealth management firms. Capital invested in fintech in the UK (EUR million), Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025 Germany followed, posting strong performance and attracting increasing foreign investment. The country secured about EUR 500 million in fintech funding, with deals mostly concentrated in wealth management, banking, and digital currency. Notable transactions included Scalable Capital’s EUR 155 million raise, Solaris’ EUR 140 million venture round, and Nelly’s EUR 50 million Series B. Scalable Capital is a digital investment platform, Solaris is an embedded finance specialist, and Nelly is a finance platform for the healthcare sector. Capital invested in fintech in Germany (EUR million), Source: State of European Fintech 2025, Finch Capital, Sep 2025   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by smmedia.io via Freepik The post European Fintech Shows Resilience; AI, Stablecoin Emerge As Transformative Technologies appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nearly 200 publicly traded companies are under scrutiny by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over their crypto-focused treasury strategies, which have coincided with significant spikes in their stock prices. According to CCN, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the SEC have launched inquiries into more than 200 firms that announced “crypto-treasury” plans in 2025. These strategies typically involve raising capital to acquire cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana for corporate balance sheets, following in the footsteps of MicroStrategy. The investigations focus on unusual trading patterns in the days or weeks prior to these disclosures, including sudden rises in stock prices and unusually high trading volumes. Regulators are examining whether these movements reflect insider trading or breaches of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD), which mandates that all investors receive equal access to material non-public information. The SEC and FINRA initiated the probes after market surveillance detected abnormal trading activity. Disclosures from the more than 200 companies were reviewed, with a subset flagged for deeper investigation. Many companies saw stock increases of 20–40% before announcing their crypto plans, with reports of clustered buy orders involving insiders, vendors, or brokers. Trading volumes spiked markedly, suggesting coordinated or informed activity. FINRA is also reviewing broker-dealer communications, including emails, chats, and calls, for potential leaks, while the SEC traces trades to possible tips. Companies experiencing notable pre-announcement stock surges include Trump Media & Technology Group, GameStop, and SharpLink Gaming. Former SEC enforcement lawyer David Chase noted that formal letters from FINRA reminding firms of Reg FD obligations are often the first step in investigations. Public companies pursuing corporate crypto treasuries are expected to raise more than US$100 billion this year to acquire digital assets. One striking example is Bitmine, a Bitcoin mining firm, which revealed Ethereum treasury plans in late June; its stock price surged from US$4.67 on 27 June to US$46.58 by July 2, nearly a tenfold increase in just a week. Similarly, firms such as Sharplink and ETHZila that began accumulating cryptocurrencies also saw substantial stock price gains.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ckybe via Freepik The post US SEC and FINRA Probe 200+ Firms Over Crypto-Treasury Deals appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Chur-based IT company Inventx has appointed Torsten Böttjer as Head of Cloud Services. In this role, he is responsible for the further development of Inventx’s hybrid cloud strategy for the Swiss financial and insurance market. The newly created position combines public and private cloud services under a single strategic leadership and aligns them with the current requirements of the financial and insurance sector. Torsten Böttjer reports directly to the CTO, Fabio Cortesi. Torsten Böttjer brings extensive leadership experience in the development and operation of cloud platforms. At Swisscom, Cisco and Oracle, he led key cloud initiatives, including the introduction of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in Europe. Most recently, he headed cloud and infrastructure operations at Avaloq and advanced the automation of compliance processes in hybrid operating models for core banking services. The consolidation of responsibility for private and public cloud offerings allows for full flexibility: sensitive data and core systems operate securely in the ix.cloud, while the public cloud provides capacity for innovation-driven applications. Inventx operates its infrastructure independently across four highly available data centres in eastern Switzerland. The offering is complemented by managed public cloud services for organisations seeking to implement hybrid scenarios with a trusted Swiss partner. Torsten Böttjer “In a time of increasing geopolitical complexity, the combination of ix.cloud in our own Swiss data centres and leading public cloud platforms provides a significant advantage: our clients retain full control over their data while benefiting from maximum innovation potential. This hybrid architecture represents a tangible benefit for all Swiss banks and insurers. I look forward to further developing this advantage,” said Torsten Böttjer.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by isaac1112 via Freepik The post Inventx Appoints Torsten Böttjer as Head of Cloud Services appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Ten years after its launch, digital bank Revolut has moved into new headquarters in London’s Canary Wharf, signalling its arrival among established financial institutions. The company now serves 65 million customers worldwide and aims to reach 100 million by 2027. Last year it reported a net profit of around CHF 900 million and is currently valued at about US$75 billion. Switzerland has become a key market for the bank, with over one million customers already. In an interview with Handelszeitung, David Tirado, Vice President Global Business and Profitability at Revolut, described the country as “one of our five key projects”, noting that Swiss users are among the most profitable in its portfolio due to strong demand for currency exchange and investment products. Revolut only began marketing in Switzerland after receiving approval for a local representation last year, yet reached close to a million customers without advertising. Tirado believes the bank could achieve similar penetration levels to Ireland, where it serves over 65% of the adult population. Profitability in Switzerland has already been achieved. David Tirado “One of our core objectives is not to make losses in any country,” Tirado said. Investments have been made in a local office, Swiss account numbers through Postfinance, and new offerings such as money market funds. The company is also seeing growing demand in the business segment, particularly from firms with international exposure. The bank does not yet provide loans in Switzerland but plans to expand this offering. Challenges remain, particularly with Swiss account numbers that are still issued under Postfinance, limiting their use as salary accounts. Tirado said Revolut is working to localise the product and is reviewing whether to operate under a Swiss banking licence or a full local branch. Revolut is also preparing to sponsor the Swiss Formula 1 team Sauber from 2026, which Tirado called “a strong commitment” to the market. One of the products that Revolut cannot yet announce for Switzerland is its entry into the payment acceptance business. This acquiring of payments for retail and hospitality is currently dominated in the country by the French company Worldline and has few competitors, such as Nexi and the digital provider SumUp. Tests have already been completed, and the bank is awaiting regulatory approval before rollout.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wirestock via Freepik The post Revolut Aims to Expand Swiss Market Amid Global Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced the conclusion of framework agreements for the five negotiated procurement procedures linked to the digital euro project. One of the agreements concerns the provision of an offline payment solution, with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D), in partnership with Nexi and Capgemini, ranked as the first tenderer. The planned offline capability is considered a key feature of the digital euro, ensuring payments can be made without third-party involvement. The ECB regards this functionality as essential for privacy and resilience, similar to the role of cash today. Transactions would be settled directly between users’ devices, such as smartphones, cards, and other compatible hardware, without internet connection or power supply. This approach would allow payments to be completed locally while avoiding the recording of details by banks, payment service providers, or central banks. The digital euro, issued by the Eurosystem, is designed to complement banknotes and coins by offering citizens greater flexibility in digital payments. Like cash, it is intended to be universally accessible across the euro area. Following the procurement procedure (PRO-009494 Digital Euro Offline Solution), the ECB has concluded a framework agreement for the design, development, and partial operation of the offline component. G+D, Nexi, and Capgemini will work together on its integration into the wider digital euro architecture and the Digital Euro Service Platform (DESP). The partnership combines G+D’s experience in security technologies and currency systems, Nexi’s expertise in payment technology and point-of-sale integration, and Capgemini’s role in technology consulting and digital transformation. Dr Wolfram Seidemann, CEO of G+D Currency Technology, said: Dr Wolfram Seidemann “We are proud to lead this pan-European cooperation, working together with our partners Nexi and Capgemini to bring the digital euro’s offline capabilities to life. This milestone underscores our commitment to innovation and security in digital payment solutions while preserving the privacy and resilience that citizens expect from cash.” Renato Martini, Digital Banking Solutions Director at Nexi Group, added: Renato Martini “As we accelerate the digitisation of payments across Europe, our ambition is to enable solutions that are not only innovative, but also resilient. We’re proud to contribute to the development of such an important part of the infrastructure for the digital euro leveraging our strength and knowledge within acceptance technology, that will help ensure seamless payments, also in situations where the terminal is offline.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Who is Danny via Freepik The post ECB Selects Consortium to Develop Offline Payments for Digital Euro appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut has overtaken Nubank as the world’s most valuable neobank, reaching a valuation of US$75 billion after an employee secondary share sale, according to a staff memo seen by Bloomberg. The London-based fintech startup was valued at US$45 billion last year following a share sale by new and existing investors. The new transaction priced its shares at US$1,381.06, increasing Revolut’s valuation by two-thirds. The surge comes after Revolut boosted its annual profits by 149% to US$1.4 billion in 2024, driven by growth in wealth management, foreign exchange (FX), and interest income. The company is now accelerating its global expansion plans. In Latin America (LatAm), Revolut expects to launch as a bank in Mexico early next year, and is planing entries into Colombia and Argentina. In Asia-Pacific, Revolut is preparing to launch in India after securing a payment license in April, and is pursuing further licenses in Australia and New Zealand. In Europe, it intends to submit a French banking license application, and open branches in Portugal and Belgium. Finally, in Africa and the Middle East, the company was recently awarded an in-principle payment license in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Founded in 2015, Revolut offers banking services for individuals and businesses, including crypto, stock trading, loans, and FX. The company claims more than 65 million customers worldwide, and over a billion transactions a month. Its enterprise arm, Revolut Business, has surpassed US$1 billion in annualized revenue and is now processing over 4 million monthly payments for merchants. Revolut aims to reach 100 million customers by mid-2027, and enter more than 30 new markets by 2030. This growth will be powered by US$13 billion in planned investments over the next five years comprising a US$4 billion commitment to the UK, US$1.2 billion to its Western Europe hub in France, and US$500 million to accelerate its operations in the US. A valuation exceeding industry benchmarks Though Revolut continues to show strong growth, the company’s valuation significantly exceeds industry norms. New data from Multiples, a UK-based valuation data platform, reveal that Revolut is trading at an enterprise value-to-revenue multiple (EV/R) of 18.3, compared to an industry median of 5.8. The EV/R ratio compares a company’s enterprise value with its revenue. It’s one of the main indicators used by investors to gauge whether a stock is priced fairly. Implied EV/revenue multiples of the world’s most valuable neobanks, Source: Neobanking valuations, Multiples, Sep 2025 This disparity means that investors are willing to pay nearly four times more per dollar of revenue for Revolut than for the average industry peer. This may suggest that investors are viewing Revolut as having stronger growth prospects, a more favorable strategic position, or greater expansion opportunities. However, it may also imply that the market is overvaluing Revolut relative to its actual earnings power. In comparison, Brazil’s Nubank, which has a market capitalization of about US$72 billion and ranks as the world’s second most valuable neobank, trades at an EV/R close to the industry media while delivering stronger financial performance. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, Nubank generated US$11.5 billion in revenue, nearly double Revolut’s US$4 billion, and US$1.97 billion in net income, 41% higher than Revolut’s. It also boasts a much larger customer base of 123 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Number of customers of the world’s top neobanks, Source: Neobanking valuations, Multiples, Sep 2025 Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Sao Paulo, Nubank is the largest digital bank in LatAm and one of the most influential ones globally. The company provides a comprehensive suite of digital financial products and services designed to simplify banking and improve financial inclusion, including a no-fee digital payment account, international credit cards, personal loans, insurance products, investment services, and business banking solutions. Having established a strong foothold in LatAm, Nubank is now setting its sights beyond the region. This week, the company announced that it has applied for a national bank charter in the US, with plans to offer deposit accounts, credit card, lending and digital asset custody. The move marks its first major step into a new market outside LatAm. Profitability still elusive After Revolut, Nubank, and WeBank, which lead the global neobanking market in valuation, customer base, and revenue scale, other major players include: Wise, a UK player initially focused on cross-border transactions. Wise is valued at US$15.3 billion and generated US$1.9 billion in revenue in 2024; Klarna, which specializes in buy now, pay later (BNPL) arrangements (US$14 billion valuation and US$2.8 billion in revenue in 2024); Chime, a neobank from the US (valued at US$9 billion with US$1.7 billion in revenue in 2024); Kakao Bank, a digital bank from South Korea (valued at US$8.2 billion with US$2.1 billion in revenue in 2024); and Monzo, an app-based challenger bank in the UK (valued at US$5.9 billion with US$1.6 billion in revenue in 2024). Top neobanks valuation, Source: Neobanking valuations, Multiples, Sep 2025 Together, these eight companies are among the world’s top 15 most valuable neobanks. Though these neobanks have valuations ranging from US$1.8 billion to US$75 billion, only 11 of them are turning a profit, with major names like Chime, Klarna, Germany’s N26, and Argentina’s Uala still yet to achieve profitability. Pre-tax profit of the world’s top neobanks, Source: Neobanking valuations, Multiples, Sep 2025   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Revolut Dethrones Nubank as World’s Most Valuable Neobank appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The global payment industry is undergoing structural changes as digital payments rewrite the rules and new technologies including stablecoins and artificial intelligence (AI) gain traction, a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says. The report, released in September, explores the main transformative forces reshaping the landscape, identifying digital currencies, agentic AI, real-time account-to-account (A2A) payments, and the rise of software platforms, as major trends to watch. Digital currencies enter the mainstream The first trend outlined is the rise of digital currencies, with US dollar-denominated stablecoins in particular having achieved clear product market fit, supported by greater regulatory clarity. In 2024, stablecoins reached a market capitalization of around US$210 billion, with transaction volumes exceeding US$26 trillion. Tokenized real-world assets, including money market funds and private credit, are also expanding rapidly, with market capitalization reaching roughly US$28 billion, marking a nearly fourfold increase in two years. This surge is fueling the build-out of a more modular foundation for transaction banking, payments, and banking-as-a-service (BaaS), where blockchain-native components operate largely in the background. For banks and payment service providers (PSPs), the challenge will be now to determine how to connect to this architecture in ways that match their competitive strengths, risk appetite, and regulatory constraints. Strategic options include acting as custodians of digital assets, issuing stablecoins or tokenized deposits, forming consortiums to scale adoption, or focusing on infrastructure and “as-a-service” models. Five strategic options for banks and payment service providers to participate in stablecoins and tokenized deposits, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025 Agentic AI moves into the payment stack AI agents are another prominent trend in the payment landscape. These agents leverage AI to make decisions, take actions, and pursue objectives over time with minimal human intervention. They are able to solve complex problems, interpret and create actionable plans, and execute these plans using a suite of tools. Within the payment landscape, AI agents are expected to take on tasks such as budgeting, bill payments, and dispute resolution. Merchants and small businesses will deploy customer-facing agents to deliver faster, more personalized service, and simplifying other touchpoints, and manage financial workflows such as vendor onboarding, invoicing, reconciliation, and payment scheduling, more efficiently. AI agents may also be used to optimize marketing budgets, trigger reorders, and adjust pricing in real time, allowing businesses to save resources while making faster and better-informed decisions. PSPs, meanwhile, will adopt similar tools across their operations, using AI agents to autonomously resolve inquiries, enhance onboarding and fraud detection, and deliver personalized offers informed by transaction history. According to a 2025 BCG consumer survey, 81% of consumers expect to shop using agentic AI. In the coming years, more than US$1 trillion in spending, representing about 50% of total e-commerce expenditure today, could be agent assisted, with early adoption focused on routine purchases such as groceries, restaurant orders, and personal care products. Use of agentic AI for commerce, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025 BCG expects payment networks to gain the most from the agentic commerce trend. These players will get to define roles, set standards, and shape economics, unlocking new monetization opportunities. Issuers, meanwhile, will find opportunities in creating category-specific agents for sectors like traveling and dining, while acquirers will need to establish advanced fraud and risk capabilities to help merchants participate effectively in AI-driven commerce. Cost excellence to lift margins Across the payment industry, margin pressures are intensifying, making operational efficiency a critical priority. BCG believes that PSPs which specialize in a small set of high-impact moves, and which focus on cost and productivity measures, can improve margins by 30% to 40% while sharpening performance across the board. According to BCG, payment acquirers and issuers can improve profitability by optimizing transaction routing and authorization processes, using data-driven, real-time routing to cut costs and boost success rates, especially in cross-border payments. Issuers can further improve outcomes by applying advanced analytics to raise approval rates and reduce false declines. Merchants, meanwhile, can use advanced analytics and generative AI (genAI) to target high-value customer segments with personalized and timely engagement, reducing acquisition costs, boosting conversion rates, and maximizing return on investment (ROI). Finally, payments-integrated software-as-a-service (SaaS), especially independent software vendors (ISVs), can use genAI to streamline operations, and automate support queries. They may also use genAI to accelerate software development. Cost excellence and margins, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025 Software platforms gain ground Software platforms with embedded financial services are experiencing rapid growth, especially in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) segment. From 2020 to 2024, software platforms increased their total revenue by roughly 40% annually, twice the pace of digital acquirers and nearly triple that of incumbents. As a result, revenue in payments is shifting from basic transaction processing toward value-added services and embedded finance. Between 2019 and 2023, the revenue share from value-added services (VAS) and embedded financial services grew sharply, rising from a share of 0-10% to 15-25% in Europe. Projections suggest that VAS could reach 20-25% of revenue in Europe by 2027 and embedded finance could reach 15-20% in the same time frame. Revenue mix across addressable business acquiring market, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025 Unlike traditional payment providers which mainly focus on processing transactions, platforms like Shopify, Toast, and Lightspeed integrate payments, lending, payroll, fraud prevention, and other financial tools directly into SME workflows, creating a seamless “all-in-one” operating system. SMEs are attracted to these platforms because they are easier to use, offer better support, and deliver more value than traditional acquirers or banks. To stay competitive, banks and acquirers must shift from volume to value. They should also build full-service merchant propositions either by developing proprietary solutions or forming partnerships. Furthermore, investment in embedded finance and modular, API-enabled VAS platforms will allow providers to deliver personalization, benchmarking, and insights at scale. Instant cross-border payments accelerate Real-time A2A transactions are gaining momentum worldwide, with now more than 70 countries having real-time systems in place. By 2024, real-time A2A payments represented around a quarter of global retail digital payments, up 40% YoY. Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LatAm), the Middle East, and Africa are leading A2A adoption, with LatAm topping the charts with penetration of around 45%, followed by APAC, the Middle East, and Africa at roughly 30%. Notable systems include India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which now handles more than 20 billion transactions per month; Brazil’s Pix, which serves over 160 million users and 16 million merchants; and Thailand’s PromptPay, which processes 2.3 million transactions per month. According to BCG, the next stage of growth will come from cross-border real-time payments. These capabilities offer an alternative to traditional correspondent banking and SWIFT-based transfers, and are poised to capture up to 30% of total transaction-related revenue pools in high-priority remittance and trade corridors. Within cross-border instant payments, real momentum is underway. UPI International is already live in Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, and several other countries, with expansion to more than 10 other countries planned. Meanwhile, Pix is moving toward cross-border integration, with Brazil’s central bank prioritizing corridors to nations such as Uruguay and Argentina. Finally, Project Nexus, led by the Bank for International Settlements, focuses on linking domestic instant payment systems across countries for faster and lower-cost cross-border payments. The Eurosystem, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are among those part of the initiative. Cross-border account-to-account initiatives, Source: 23rd annual Global Payments Report, Boston Consulting Group, Sep 2025   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on images by myriammira and Who is Danny via Freepik The post BCG Study: Stablecoins, Agentic AI, Instant Cross-Border Transactions Among Top Trends Reshaping Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

JCB has published a new strategic guide titled “Asian Traveller Personas: Inspiring European Merchants to Unlock Greater Spend.” The guide provides European merchants with insights into the spending habits and motivations of travellers from Asia, aiming to help them design services and experiences that match different consumer needs. The launch comes as spending by Asian visitors in Europe grows significantly. Understanding the diversity of this market can be challenging, and the guide seeks to address this by summarising cardmember data and market trends into practical information for merchants. The guide identifies five distinct traveller personas. The Security-Seeking Family Spender, common in the Philippines and Indonesia, prioritises safety and convenience. Filipino cardmembers increased their in-Europe physical spend by 101% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, and this group looks for reliable fraud prevention, contactless payments, and family-friendly services. The Social Deal Hunter, mainly from Thailand and Indonesia, comprises digital-savvy consumers aged 20-40 who focus on flash deals and instant rewards. Thai online spending grew by 112% YoY between 2022 and 2023, with a strong preference for app-based services. The Premium Traveller, found across India, Taiwan and Vietnam, values travel as a status symbol and expects high-quality service. Indian physical spend rose 641% YoY and online spend 988% YoY between 2022 and 2023. This persona prefers personalised experiences and seamless, secure payments. The Value Gift Hunter, typical of Japanese and Korean leisure travellers, purchases thoughtful gifts abroad. Japanese physical spend increased 114% YoY from 2022 to 2023. This group seeks clear pricing and bundle offers to make gift-buying straightforward. The Acceptance-Driven Digital Nomad, often from South Korea and the tech diaspora, prioritises simple and fast transactions. South Korean physical payments grew 36% YoY and online payments 34% YoY from 2022 to 2023, reflecting their preference for seamless, mobile-first payment solutions. For each persona, the guide outlines spending triggers and potential barriers, allowing merchants to adjust their payment processes to meet specific needs. This approach aims to support targeted strategies that encourage higher spending and foster loyalty. Ray Shinzawa “The European market is seeing unprecedented growth from Asian consumers, and to truly capitalise on this, merchants need a deep cultural and behavioural understanding,” said Ray Shinzawa, Managing Director, JCB Europe. “This strategic guide, built on a combination of JCB’s insights into our cardmembers’ spending patterns and wider global trends, serves as a vital blueprint. It empowers European retailers to move beyond generic approaches, enabling them to anticipate needs, personalise interactions, and ultimately support revenue growth.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by TravelScape via Freepik The post Asian Traveller Spend in Europe Surges, JCB Reveals 5 Key Personas appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

LSEG Risk Intelligence announced the launch of World-Check Verify, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The cloud-native screening API is designed to integrate compliance directly into payment and onboarding workflows, offering instant and secure checks without affecting processing speed or the customer experience. The solution aims to support financial institutions in meeting the demands of today’s rapidly evolving digital economy. World-Check Verify is intended for the modern payment ecosystem as a lightweight, stateless screening solution that allows enterprises to operate at scale with speed, reliability, and privacy safeguards. This capability addresses growing compliance demands driven by instant payments, embedded finance, and regulations such as the EU Instant Payments regulation. David Wilson, Group Head of LSEG Risk Intelligence, said: David Wilson “World-Check Verify makes compliance invisible, with timely, trusted data ensuring screening happens in the background, at the precise moment it’s needed, so payments and onboarding remain instant and seamless. It sets a new standard for embedded compliance in a world where speed, trust, and accuracy must coexist.” The solution provides real-time screening against LSEG’s World-Check data, allowing organisations to carry out embedded, low-latency checks within payment and onboarding workflows. It offers a highly available infrastructure suitable for digital platforms and neobanks, while data sovereignty is maintained through a secure, scalable, cloud-native architecture powered by AWS. The system is designed to ensure resilience and high performance for enterprise and cross-border operations, while also providing efficiency through flexible integration, precise screening, and policy alignment via advanced configuration options. Alison Kay, VP and Managing Director of AWS UKI, said: Alison Kay “This cloud-native solution scales instantly to meet demand spikes, reduces infrastructure overhead, and leverages advanced analytics to transform the manual workload burden that 77% of institutions struggle with into an automated, efficient workflow. It exemplifies how AWS’s cloud capabilities can help solve complex industry challenges so that financial institutions can innovate and scale their risk management operations with confidence, while maintaining the highest security standards.” The launch follows LSEG’s 2025 Global Risk Intelligence Survey, which found that 77% of financial institutions cite manual review workload as a key barrier to compliance, 75% report excessive false positives from legacy systems, and 98% say real-time data is critical to their compliance workflows. World-Check Verify aims to address these challenges by providing frictionless screening that does not compromise on accuracy, resilience, or security. Whether verifying a new customer, screening a beneficiary, or monitoring a transaction, the solution delivers trusted screening to clients, helping organisations manage risk, reduce operational burden, and support compliance.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by suksao via Freepik The post LSEG Launches World-Check Verify with AWS for Real-Time Compliance appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Capital Markets and Technology Association (CMTA) and the German Association for Electronic Securities (BfeW) have announced a collaboration to promote the adoption of tokenisation standards across jurisdictions. The partnership aims to align technical frameworks for tokenisation in Switzerland and Germany, contributing to international standardisation. A key outcome of this collaboration is the update of CMTA’s smart contract framework for tokenisation, the CMTAT, along with its reference implementation, to align with the requirements of the German Electronic Securities Act (eWpG). The update is included in the recently released version 3.0.0 of the Solidity reference implementation and allows the CMTAT to be used in tokenisation processes under Germany’s regulatory framework. In addition, the ERC-7551 standard, developed by BfeW, incorporates the core functions outlined in CMTA’s tokenisation standards for Switzerland. This alignment demonstrates the adaptability of both frameworks and facilitates the implementation of tokenisation processes across multiple jurisdictions. Markus Kluge has joined CMTA’s Technical Advisory Board Committee, which oversees the ongoing development of the CMTAT framework. His expertise is expected to support the framework’s compliance with German regulatory requirements. The CMTAT’s modular design allows token code to be adjusted to meet local legal requirements, providing flexibility across different jurisdictions. Dr Jacques Iffland “CMTA is committed to collaborating with associations across the world and partners to tailor the CMTAT for use in different jurisdictions,” said Dr Jacques Iffland, Chairman of CMTA. “International cooperation is essential to ensure the availability of smart contracts that can be used in a legally compliant manner across jurisdictions.” Christopher Görtz, Chairman of BfeW’s Board of Directors, added: Christopher Görtz “This collaboration is a major step toward ensuring that tokenisation frameworks remain compliant yet versatile, fostering innovation within the European digital securities market.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post CMTA and BfeW Collaborate on Cross-Border Tokenisation Standards appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.