The University of Oxford and UBS have announced the launch of the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied AI, a partnership aimed at advancing the understanding of AI and promoting its practical applications. The Centre will involve collaboration between UBS and Oxford Saïd Business School. It will also include the University’s Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS). Independent research as well as joint initiatives will be conducted at the centre. Researchers will work closely with UBS practitioners to apply findings in real-world contexts. A newly endowed UBS Professor for Applied AI at Oxford Saïd will lead the Centre, supported by a team of 20 researchers. Their work will focus on three areas. The first, AI and Society, includes governance, the future of work, and sustainability. The second, AI for Business and Economy, explores applications that drive innovation and transformation across business and economic ecosystems. The third, AI Futures, examines emerging AI paradigms, model development, and applications. Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, welcomed the partnership, stating: Professor Irene Tracey “This dynamic multidisciplinary partnership will lead to pioneering new AI research solutions and practical applications at a time of unprecedented technological change. We are grateful to UBS for their vision and support, enabling us to launch the Oxford-UBS Centre for Applied AI.” She added that the partnership would be “unique in its research power, drawing on Oxford’s business school and scientific research division.” Mike Dargan, UBS Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer, said: Mike Dargan “We are delighted that UBS will be partnering with the University of Oxford to foster pioneering AI research and develop practical tools and solutions that can be implemented at scale across our firm, accelerating our journey to become a fully AI-enabled institution and shaping the future of financial services.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Oxford University and UBS Launch Centre for Applied AI appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Stellantis and Bolt, Europe’s largest mobility platform, have announced a partnership to explore the development and deployment of Level 4 (driverless) autonomous vehicles for commercial use across Europe. The collaboration will combine Stellantis’ AV-Ready Platforms,  including the eK0 medium-size van and STLA Small platforms, with Bolt’s ride-hailing network, which operates in more than 50 countries, including 23 EU member states. Bolt aims to integrate Stellantis’ autonomous vehicles into its shared mobility platform to support future driverless ride-hailing services. Stellantis designed its AV-Ready Platforms for flexibility and scalability, equipping them with advanced sensors, high-performance computing systems, and redundancies to meet European safety and reliability standards. The platforms help mobility service providers reduce operational costs and support large-scale deployment. Both companies plan to begin testing autonomous vehicles in selected European markets from 2026. The rollout will follow a phased approach. It will progress from prototypes and pilot fleets to broader industrial deployment, with an initial production target set for 2029. Stellantis and Bolt will work with European regulators throughout the process. They will ensure alignment with safety, data protection, and cybersecurity standards. For Stellantis, the partnership expands its network of collaborators in Europe and supports its driverless mobility strategy. For Bolt, it marks progress toward its aim of operating 100,000 autonomous vehicles on its platform by 2035. Antonio Filosa, CEO of Stellantis, said: Antonio Filosa “Autonomous fleets can also contribute to a lower carbon footprint by enabling shared and optimised mobility. Partnering with Bolt brings this vision closer, combining our engineering expertise with their operational reach to help make driverless mobility a trusted part of daily life in Europe.” Markus Villig, Founder and CEO of Bolt, said: Markus Villig “By combining Stellantis’ AV-Ready Platforms and our operational expertise, we plan to create an autonomous vehicle offering tailored to European needs and standards. This partnership marks the next step towards our ambition to have 100,000 autonomous vehicles on the Bolt platform by 2035.”     Featured image credit: Stellantis The post Stellantis, Bolt Partner on Level 4 Autonomous Vehicles appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

ClearBank has partnered with Finseta, a foreign exchange and payments solutions company, to offer agency banking services for GBP and multicurrency (MCCY) accounts. Under the partnership, Finseta will use ClearBank’s virtual IBAN technology to provide GBP and MCCY wallets to its UK customers, enabling faster and more efficient money transfers. ClearBank’s real-time payment infrastructure will support individuals and merchants with international payments and FX requirements, as well as access to additional currencies. For Finseta, the partnership strengthens its ability to serve clients in high-value international transactions and complex FX scenarios. For ClearBank, it extends support for fintechs in the international payments ecosystem and facilitates real-time foreign currency payments. Following initial discussions earlier this year, Finseta integrated ClearBank’s GBP and MCCY APIs from approval in September to full deployment within months, allowing customers to transact immediately. The collaboration will initially focus on Finseta’s UK customers, with plans to expand into Europe via SEPA payments. John Salter, Chief Customer Officer at ClearBank, said: John Salter “Finseta’s speed in integrating into ClearBank’s API and bringing accounts to market demonstrates how our technology-first approach enables our partners to act quickly to serve their customers. These accounts will help Finseta to deliver faster, more efficient payments solutions for larger-scale or complex transactions.” Birinder Lally, Head of Alternative Banking at Finseta, said: Birinder Lally “By integrating directly with ClearBank’s API and leveraging their multicurrency capabilities, we can provide faster and more flexible solutions to our clients operating across borders. The partnership will help us to support customers in managing their payments and FX exposure with greater control and efficiency.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by digitizesc via Freepik The post ClearBank and Finseta Partner on Multicurrency Accounts appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Federal Council has reiterated its aim for Switzerland to be among the leading locations for digital finance. At its meeting on 5 December, it reviewed the current status of work carried out by the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) following the Federal Council’s 2022 report on digital finance. Digital technologies and new business models continue to influence financial market structures and the performance of Switzerland’s financial centre. The 2022 report outlined twelve areas of action for creating suitable conditions for innovation while considering associated risks. Several measures have been initiated or implemented since 2022. A consultation is under way on proposals to improve the existing “fintech license.” It also aims to provide clearer regulation for stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies. The Financial Innovation Desk (FIND), established in 2023, completed its pilot phase. The State Secretariat for International Finance incorporated it in September 2025. In open finance, the objectives set in 2022 have led to banking-sector initiatives such as multibanking. A dedicated review is due by the end of the year. The Green Fintech Network, converted into an association in 2023, continues its activities. Collaboration between authorities and the private sector has supported work on cyber-resilience and financial crime risks through initiatives such as the Swiss Financial Sector Cybersecurity Centre and the Swiss Financial Intelligence Public Private Partnership. The Federal Council confirmed that the 2022 areas of action will continue to guide further work. Officials will submit a sectoral analysis on AI and financial market law in the coming months. Clarification on cloud computing and outsourcing will focus on risks to financial stability. The fifth Point Zero Forum will take place in Zurich in June 2026, alongside the SwissHacks hackathon. Further work will continue in regtech, suptech, data use and data flows, as well as on monitoring international developments, including e-ID. Switzerland will also maintain its involvement in international bodies such as the FSB and IMF to support the development of global standards and market access.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by PAKMUD and wirestock via Freepik The post Switzerland Updates Progress on Digital Finance Agenda appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Clearstream, the post-trade services provider owned by Deutsche Börse Group, has launched Next Data Solutions, a new generation of data tools aimed at providing market participants with enhanced transparency across the post-trade value chain. The suite consolidates four specific products (SettlementNext, LendingNext, CollateralNext, and LiquidityNext) under a single data and analytics framework. According to the company, these tools are designed to assist financial institutions in shifting from retrospective reporting to proactive decision-making. The solutions enable firms to anticipate settlement challenges, optimise collateral allocation, and manage liquidity in real time. A key component of the launch is the support for the upcoming accelerated settlement cycle in Europe. Within the suite, the SettlementNext product introduces a “T+1 Scorecard.” This feature equips clients with insights regarding the necessary adjustments required to comply with T+1 mandates. Eva-Maria Keller, Head of Data, Channels and Digital Operations at Clearstream, commented on the demands of the modern financial landscape. She highlighted the absolute necessity for speed and precision in the current market environment. Eva-Maria Keller “In this increasingly fast-paced world, market participants need to act quickly upon current events and take precise and informed decisions within seconds,” Keller said. “Clearstream’s Next Data Solutions helps clients understand their activity with greater clarity, enabling them to address recurring issues and realign their positions to meet future liquidity and funding demands”. Keller further noted that as the industry prepares for shifts such as T+1 settlement and the deeper integration of European capital markets, these tools serve to enhance market efficiency and security. Next Data Solutions is currently available to clients through the Clearstream Xact web portal. The company also announced plans to release additional analytics modules in 2026. Featured image by Freepik. The post Clearstream Unveils Next Data Solutions for Post Trade Transparency appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

LSEG has announced a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector for ChatGPT users and enterprise customers of OpenAI, alongside initial plans to make ChatGPT Enterprise available to its employees. Through the connector, ChatGPT users with LSEG-licensed credentials will be able to access financial data and news from LSEG products such as Workspace and Financial Analytics directly within the ChatGPT app. This will allow users to analyse market data and news content for more informed insights. The rollout will begin with LSEG Financial Analytics, with additional data categories and functionality to follow. Emily Prince, Group Head of AI at LSEG, said: Emily Prince “LSEG’s connector within ChatGPT combines all the benefits of a secure, enterprise AI platform with a seamless MCP connection and the unparalleled depth, breadth and quality of financial data, analytics, news and commentary that LSEG provides.” An initial group of 4,000 LSEG employees will gain access to ChatGPT Enterprise. This will help them streamline tasks, improve internal processes, and work more efficiently within a secure enterprise environment. LSEG will collaborate with OpenAI’s technical teams to ensure smooth adoption of the latest AI models and capabilities. Ashley Kramer, Head of Revenue at OpenAI, commented: Ashley Kramer “LSEG’s market data and analytics power decisions across global finance. Integrating that strength into ChatGPT makes it even easier for customers to ask complex questions and move quickly with confidence.” This initiative forms part of LSEG’s wider AI strategy, LSEG Everywhere, which aims to deliver licensed data to support AI in financial services. The strategy leverages proprietary datasets spanning decades. It also includes partnerships with enterprise AI platforms such as Microsoft, Claude, Snowflake, and Databricks. LSEG’s MCP connector is expected to go live in ChatGPT from the week of 8 December.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by patcharaporn1984 via Freepik The post LSEG Launches ChatGPT Connector and Enterprise Access appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Three years after the collapse of the Bahamas-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the country continues to feel the impact and has not yet recovered from the resulting reputational damage, Christina Rolle, Executive Director of the Securities Commission of the Bahamas, said in a recent interview. This underscores the long-term consequences that such a widespread financial scandal can have on a nation’s credibility. Speaking to Henri Arslanian for his “The Future of Crypto Compliance” podcast series, Rolle reflected on the aftermath of the FTX collapse on the Bahamas. She noted that while most regulators worldwide and those familiar with the crypto space understand that the situation was handled appropriately, parts of the public still associate the country with FXT, a negative perception that’s is likely to persist. “I don’t know that [the Bahamas] are fully recovered [from the FTX saga],” Rolle said. “I think that there are quarters that will still hold our feet to the fire over that. The truth is, we handled that very well, and our legislative framework was, in fact, very strong in order to address that situation. Certainly, that’s usually the sentiment among regulators. That’s usually the sentiment among people who have a deep knowledge of the crypto world as well. But then there’s the wider public that probably doesn’t have that level of inside knowledge, and I think we’re still fighting those perceptions. We probably will always be fighting those perceptions in the same way that we’ll always be fighting the perception that we’re a tax haven or that we’re a money laundering center or something like that.” Setting up in the Bahamas Rolle retraced FTX’s entry into the Bahamas, recalling that the company first approached regulators after the jurisdiction introduced the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges (DARE) Act in late-2020, governing digital asset businesses in the country. At the time, the Bahamas was among the few jurisdictions in the world to have a proper regulatory framework for digital assets. “We passed the legislation in December of 2020, and [FTX] started to approach the Bahamas in February 2021,” Rolle recalled. “We thought we would develop this framework and we would have a trickle of exchanges globally who would be interested, but we never thought in our wildest dreams that we would attract perhaps the second largest crypto exchange in the Bahamas.” It took roughly seven months to get FTX’s application to reach a stage of approval in-principle as well as extensive back and forth to ensure compliance with its legal obligations. Initially, FTX planned only to obtain to a license in the Bahamas. However, after China clamped down on cryptocurrencies in late-2021, FTX decided to make the Bahamas its official headquarters and moved related entities, such as Alameda Research, to the Bahamas as well. The government welcomed the development, believing that the company’s presence would attract other crypto firms. At the time, the move was seen as a success as a reputable company was choosing the Bahamas as its base. FTX quickly began influencing the local economy, particularly in the real-estate market. “This was an entity that, within a very, very short space of time, they probably acquired more than US$200 million in real estate in probably less than a year,” Rolle said. “That’s a game changer for the economy of the Bahamas in such a short period of time.” The collapse Rolle then recounted the events of November 2022, when FTX collapsed, explaining that Bahamian regulators first learned about the company’s problems through social media. During a call with Ryan Salameh, former CEO of FTX Digital Markets, the FTX subsidiary based in the Bahamas, and Ryne Miller, FTX US’s former general counsel, the executives admitted to fraudulent activity, leading Rolle to move quickly to suspend FTX’s license and place the company into liquidation to protect customers and creditors. “We had to mobilize quickly to prepare ourselves to go to court the next day,” Rolle explained. “We made the internal decisions we needed, we needed to identify a liquidator … and we had to go through some enforcement protocols to do that … So I filed a letter with the police, basically an initial criminal complaint to trigger an investigation on their end [the very next day] … and put them into liquidation. I was having conversations with the Securities Commission, the Police, having conversations with liquidators, also trying to get those items coordinated.” Because the Securities Commission placed FTX Digital Markets into liquidation, Bankman-Fried rushed to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US before the end of the same day. This triggered a broader wind-down and restructuring process for FTX entities worldwide. In the days that followed, the Securities Commission took control of FTX’s digital assets for safekeeping, describing this as an unprecedented move for a regulator. “We [had] the legislative power to take these assets into our custody but I knew that we had to think through this process very, very quickly, so I spent a couple hours opening a wallet with Fireblocks to receive these assets,” Rolle recalled. “I needed a specific litigator who could go before a court and explain to them what these assets were, first of all, and why it is that we needed to take them into our custody for safekeeping, which was an extraordinary act and something that regulators really aren’t used to doing, or used to thinking that they would have to do. All of this was new territory. Our primary concern at that point was protecting the interests of clients and creditors.” At that point, police had already confiscated Bankman-Fried’s passport, as well as that of Gary Wang, former CTO and co-founder of FTX. Authorities were concerned they might not gather enough evidence within the 72-hour limit required to file charges, and if they failed to do so, Bankman-Fried and Wang could flee, especially given the Bahamas’ proximity to Cuba, which has no extradition treaty. In hindsight Reflecting on the aftermath, Rolle said the regulator did well in sticking to clear principles rather than trying to plan for every possible scenario. However, in hindsight, she believes the regulator should have put both FTX Digital Markets and FTX Trading into liquidation. Though FTX Digital Markets was the main regulated entity underpinning the group’s international exchange operations, FTX Trading was the parent company and controlled multiple subsidiaries including US entities. Limiting the action created unnecessary jurisdictional conflict between the US and the Bahamas, triggering a power struggle with US courts and regulators over assets, decision-making, and control of the broader FTX group. “[The whole US/Bahamas issue] created a fight that was unnecessary, … and an unnecessary territorial fight,” Rolle said. “Now, do I think that we had, that we have the manpower in terms of the resources to have dealt with that entire, the entire scope of FTX globally? We probably would have had to bring in resources … lawyers, crypto experts, and others from the US … because we don’t have enough of them in the Bahamas. But certainly, I think that had we made that move, it could have gone a lot smoother.” The future of Digital Assets in the Bahamas Since the collapse, Rolle said the Bahamas has introduced additional digital asset legislation, and finalized a new framework in 2024. She expects global regulation to increasingly converge as crypto becomes more widely accepted and institutional players enter the space. “What I see right now is a shift,” Rolle said. “About four years ago, it was very much focused around the crypto bros. Now you have a lot more institutional players in the space; institutional players that are used to the regulation of traditional finance. And so they expect regulation [in the crypto space]. Now you see regulation becoming more thoughtful. It’s converging around principles. And so I think that’s the future. I think crypto, certainly blockchain-based activity is here to stay … especially tokenization.” Looking ahead, Rolle sees the Bahamas as a hub for crypto companies looking to operate outside the heavily regulated major markets, like the US, or the European Union (EU). “If someone wants to be regulated or someone wants to do business with US persons, they will need to be regulated in the US and they would need to seek that. If they want to do business with Europeans, they will need to be regulated in one of the EU countries that have signed on to the legislation,” Rolle said. “But there remain those outside of those major jurisdictions, especially in … huge markets … like Latin America, or parts of Asia … where they is a gap in legislation, and certainly a gap in aligning structures around what’s going on in the big jurisdictions. “I think that’s where the Bahamas comes in. We can be a sort of ‘rest-of-the world regulatory strategy’ … but aligned with regulation in those major jurisdictions … for persons who may have, say, for example, a license in the US to do business with US persons, but they also want to operate elsewhere.”   The post Bahamas Still Grapples with the Reputational Fallout of the FTX Collapse appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The HSG START Accelerator held its first Demo Day on 2 December, where eight selected deeptech startups presented their business models to an audience of investors, partners, and guests. Most of the participating startups are already in advanced discussions with investors or have completed a financing round. The programme aims to connect technological excellence with entrepreneurial implementation, preparing European tech startups in the early growth phase for scaling and access to capital and markets. The initiative is a collaboration between the University of St. Gallen (HSG), the START Foundation, and the Switzerland Innovation Park East, with support from the Canton of St. Gallen, other foundations, and private donors. Over 150 participants attended the Demo Day at the University of St. Gallen’s SQUARE. Eight startups were chosen from more than 130 applications across 30 countries, representing fields such as climatetech, drones, AI, medtech, and robotics. Founders come from leading institutions including ETH Zurich, EPFL, Empa, the University of Zurich, and HSG. Nicolas Blanchard “The last few weeks have shown how the founders have sharpened their positioning and worked on their business models to become investor-ready,” said Nicolas Blanchard, CEO of the HSG START Accelerator. Around 60 experts and mentors supported the startups, helping them refine business models, develop market strategies, and connect with potential investors. The startups presenting included: Augmedi AI-based 3D learning platform for medical training. Avientus ETH Zurich spin-off offering drone logistics solutions. Dexterous Endoscopes EPFL spin-off developing a flexible surgical endoscope. Forgis AI-driven development for industrial robot systems. Ionic Wind Empa spin-off creating energy-efficient cooling technology. Iron Energy ETH spin-off producing iron-oxide-based long-duration energy storage. Neurovia EPFL spin-off developing minimally invasive implants interacting with the nervous system. TreeScatter AI platform generating detailed 3D models of forests for sustainable forestry. The independent investment committee offered funding to Dexterous Endoscopes, recognising the startup’s product, market strategy, and growth potential. Applications for the second batch, starting in March 2026, are now open for European tech startups ready for their next growth phase. Featured image credit: HSG START Accelerator The post HSG START Accelerator Holds First Demo Day for Deeptech Startups appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

RavenPack, a London-based provider of AI and big data analytics for financial services, has partnered with the Financial Times. The agreement includes an investment from FT Ventures and a content licensing deal. It integrates the FT’s news feed and archive into RavenPack’s products, including Bigdata.com, allowing hedge funds, banks, and other institutional clients to develop AI-driven financial tools using FT content. James Mann “Our partnership with RavenPack marks a major step forward in how the FT supports the evolving needs of the financial community,” said James Mann, Managing Director of FT Professional. “This is also the FT’s first distribution partnership purpose-built for the generative AI era, reflecting how professional readers increasingly rely on both human insight and machine-driven analysis.” Armando Gonzalez, CEO of RavenPack, said, Armando Gonzalez “With the FT’s authoritative content now fuelling our intelligence products, we are accelerating the shift toward AI that mirrors how seasoned analysts think. This is the beginning of AI that does more than read the news; it interprets the world.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post RavenPack Partners with Financial Times to Power AI Analytics appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

ClearBank has partnered with Plaid. The collaboration aims to enable faster and more secure Pay by Bank experiences for businesses and consumers in the UK. For businesses, the partnership simplifies the sending, receiving, and reconciling of open banking payments through ClearBank’s virtual accounts and direct access to the UK Faster Payments Service (FPS). Virtual accounts allow businesses to match incoming payments to individual users or transactions, improving reconciliation and reducing manual effort. With ClearBank’s cloud-native, real-time infrastructure, Plaid can support faster and more reliable pay-ins and payouts, helping companies provide smoother checkout and account-funding processes. Consumers will also benefit from faster and more predictable bank payments. Whether making payouts or transferring funds between accounts, users can expect a seamless and secure experience supported by ClearBank’s regulated infrastructure. Mark Fairless, Group Chief Executive Officer of ClearBank, said: Mark Fairless “By combining ClearBank’s cloud-native infrastructure with Plaid’s open banking connectivity, we’re unlocking potential for businesses to deliver faster, more reliable and secure payment experiences.” Zak Lambert, Head of Product, Europe, Plaid, added: Zak Lambert “Pay by Bank is no longer a niche option. Adoption is rising quickly, especially among younger consumers who expect instant, secure, and low-friction ways to pay. To meet that demand, businesses need reliable real-time payment infrastructure. ClearBank’s technology helps Plaid deliver instant, secure, and cost-efficient bank payments so companies can better serve their customers’ needs.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by gpointstudio via Freepik The post ClearBank and Plaid Partner to Streamline UK Bank Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Kraken and Deutsche Börse Group have announced a strategic partnership to integrate traditional and digital asset markets. The partnership will combine the two firms’ capabilities across trading, custody, settlement, collateral management, and tokenised assets, aiming to provide institutional clients with streamlined access to both ecosystems. In the first phase, Kraken will integrate directly with 360T, a Deutsche Börse subsidiary and major foreign-exchange trading venue. This will give Kraken clients access to competitive FX liquidity from one of the largest global pools, improving fiat on- and off-ramp efficiency while maintaining institutional-grade execution. Kraken Embed will be used to expand institutional crypto access across Deutsche Börse’s network. The companies plan to develop white-label solutions. These will allow banks, fintechs, and other financial institutions to offer compliant crypto trading and custody services in Europe and the US. Subject to regulatory approval, Eurex-listed derivatives could become available on Kraken. This would extend access to Europe’s largest regulated futures and options market. Deutsche Börse clients will be able to trade cryptocurrencies and derivatives via Crypto Finance and Kraken. They can also use Clearstream and Crypto Finance for custody. The partnership will integrate xStocks within 360X’s ecosystem. It will also explore distributing securities held at Clearstream in tokenised form to Kraken clients. Geographically, Kraken will provide its US capabilities to Deutsche Börse clients seeking crypto exposure. Meanwhile, Deutsche Börse will offer European infrastructure and services to Kraken’s global clients. Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Kraken, said: Arjun Sethi “By linking traditional and digital markets across a wide range of asset classes, we’re building a holistic foundation for the next generation of financial innovation: defined by efficiency, openness, and client access.” Stephan Leithner, CEO of Deutsche Börse Group, added: Stephan Leithner “This collaboration underscores our commitment to shaping the future of financial markets by combining the trust of our regulated infrastructure with the innovation of the digital asset ecosystem.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post Kraken, Deutsche Börse Partner to Connect Traditional and Digital Asset Markets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have become BlackRock’s most profitable product line, a development that came as “a big surprise” to the company, Cristiano Castro, director of business development at BlackRock Brazil, tod local media. At the Blockchain Conference in Sao Paulo, Castro told reporters on the sidelines of the event on November 28, that the performance had surpassed the firm’s expectations. “We were very optimistic when we launched, but we didn’t believe it would reach such proportions,” Castro said. “Just to give you an idea, [IBIT in the US and IBIT39 in Brazil] are coming very close to US$100 billion [in allocation].” BlackRock currently has at least three bitcoin-linked ETFs and financial prod ucts active. Its flagship product is the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), a US-listed spot bitcoin ETF launched in January 2024 that seeks to reflect the performance of bitcoin’s price. IBIT had promotional concessions at launch, with the first US$5 billion in assets charged at a reduced fee of 0.12%. The fee has since increased to 0.25%. iShares Bitcoin Trust BDR (IBIT39) is BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF i0 n Brazil, and the country’s first bitcoin-linked ETF. Launched in March 2024, IBIT39 is structured as a Brazilian Depositary Receipt (BDR), providing institutional and retail investors with exposure to the US-listed IBIT. Similarly to IBIT, IBIT39 charged an initial management fee of 0.25%, which decreased to 0.12% once the fund surpasses US$5 billion in assets. In Europe, BlackRock offers the iShares Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) (IB1T) for local investors. The product began trading in March 2025 on major European exchanges, including Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, and Euronext Paris. It debuted with total expense ratio (TER) of 0.15%, which is set to increase to 0.25% starting January 01, 2027, when the temporary fee waiver ends. Fastest-growing ETFs in history BlackRock’s bitcoin ETFs have experienced significant success. Its US-listed IBIT became the fastest ETF in history to reach US$70 billion in assets, doing so in 341 days, according to CoinDesk. Momentum has continued, with the ETF now sitting at more than US$72 billion in net assets and standing as the biggest spot bitcoin ETF in the US, according to SoSoValue data. IBIT generates an estimated US$245 million in annual fees. In Europe, where BlackRock launched its spot bitcoin much more recently, volumes are still modest at about EUR 590 million (US$689 million) in assets under management (AUM). According to Arkham Intelligence, BlackRock is now the fourth-largest crypto holder by total on-chain value with around US$100 billion worth of crypto assets. BlackRock is surpassed by Binance, Coinbase and Satoshi Nakamoto, the only three bigger entities. As of mid-2025, IBIT held about 700,000 BTC, corresponding to roughly 3% of the total circulating supply of bitcoin at the time. BlackRock also holds nearly US$16 billion in ether, and its Ethereum ETF, ETHA, was also the third-fastest ETF to reach the US$10 billion mark. These figures make BlackRock the biggest asset management company in terms of crypto holdings by value. The next largest on the list is Fidelity, with nearly US$50 billion in crypto holdings. BlackRock is the world’s biggest asset management company in the world with US$11 trillion in AUM as of the end of 2024, while Fidelity is the third biggest with US$5.9 trillion of AUM. History of crypto structured products Although the crypto market started seeing the first structured investment products about a decade ago, the launch of the first US spot bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 marked a watershed moment for the sector. These regulated investment funds, which are traded on traditional securities exchanges, allow investors to gain exposure to bitcoin without directly owning the cryptocurrency. They operate by allowing investors to buy shares that represent ownership in actual bitcoins held by the fund. Since these instruments are traded on exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq, they provide broad access to retail and institutional investors, giving cryptocurrencies mainstream legitimacy and exposure. Bitcoin investment products started appearing in the early 2010s. One of the first exchange-traded notes (ETNs), Bitcoin Tracker One, was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in 2015. This was followed in 2017 with the launch of the Ethereum Tracker One. In Switzerland, the first crypto ETPs emerged in 2018, with 21Shares pioneering the world’s first physically backed ETP. Today, the company offers more than 40 ETPs, covering bitcoin, ether, altcoins such as litecoin, Cardano, and Polkadot, decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens, as well as metaverse-related crypto baskets. Earlier, in 2013, Grayscale created the Bitcoin Investment Trust, with shares publicly traded over-the-counter (OTC). In January 2024, the trust was re-registered and relabeled as an ETF after approval by the US regulator.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wombatzaa via Freepik The post Bitcoin ETFs Become BlackRock’s Most Profitable Products appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Kalshi, a US-based prediction market platform where users can trade on real-world events, has announced a US$1 billion Series E funding round at an US$11 billion valuation. The round was led by Paradigm. Other participants included Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Meritech Capital, IVP, ARK Invest, Anthos Capital, CapitalG, and Y Combinator. Founded in 2018, Kalshi has established prediction markets as a financial asset class. It aims to shift consumer engagement from passive observation to active participation, allowing users to trade on the likelihood of future events. Tarek Mansour “Kalshi is replacing debate, subjectivity, and talk with markets, accuracy, and truth,” said Tarek Mansour, CEO of Kalshi. “We have created a new way of consuming and engaging with information. It’s hard to have an opinion about the future today without thinking about Kalshi.” The platform reports weekly trading volumes exceeding US$1 billion, an increase of more than 1,000% compared with 2024. It hosts over 3,500 markets and attracts millions of weekly users, including journalists, politicians, analysts, and investors. Kalshi has also been used as a reference for election outcomes, such as the New York City mayoral race, which it projected within minutes of polls closing. The funding will support further consumer adoption, integration with additional brokerages, partnerships with news organisations, and expansion of product offerings. Matt Huang “Kalshi’s exponential growth shows the scale of latent demand for prediction markets as a new asset class, from institutions to everyday people,” said Matt Huang, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Paradigm. “People come for one type of market and stay for the breadth. We see this as an uncapped cultural and economic phenomenon, similar to how we felt about crypto a decade ago.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Kalshi Raises US$1 Billion Series E at US$11 Billion Valuation appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Cash, cheque or card: consumers have long had a choice at checkout. Today, developments in artificial intelligence and the rise of cryptocurrencies are expanding these options further and more rapidly. This shift is changing not only how people make payments, but also how they move money, establish trust, and create value. Looking ahead to 2026, payments are becoming more personalised, predictive, and interoperable across traditional and new platforms. Equally important is the foundational work behind these innovations: building infrastructure, establishing standards, and forming partnerships to support these emerging payment experiences. Securing agentic commerce In 2025, generative AI demonstrated its potential beyond recommendation engines, with AI-powered agents beginning to manage transactions for both consumers and businesses. Agentic commerce is expected to expand in 2026, alongside stronger security measures. In 2026, the industry will actively verify that agents are legitimate and strengthen authentication. It will also work to reduce fraud and capture intent if an AI-managed transaction encounters issues. “You can automate commerce, but you can’t automate trust,” an expert noted. Connecting crypto to fiat commerce While cryptocurrencies have dominated financial headlines, mainstream adoption beyond investment remains limited. Regulatory clarity in the US and Europe regarding stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to government currencies, has provided the financial sector with the confidence to explore commercial uses. In 2026, ecosystem players are expected to collaborate more closely. This will make it easier and safer for people to pay and transfer money with stablecoins, including wallet payouts, on-chain purchases, and cross-border settlement. Doubling down on digital identity Mastercard research found that 80% of consumers worldwide were targeted by scams in the past year. As the digital ecosystem expands, robust identity verification is becoming increasingly critical. Digital identity wallets will simplify access to financial, government, and other services, including age verification, and enable verified aliases for crypto transactions, reducing reliance on complex addresses often exploited in fraud. Expanding digital ID services in developing markets could also accelerate inclusion in the digital economy. The goal is “digital identity that feels as natural and reliable as making a payment.” Redefining consumption for the circular age Mastercard research shows that many consumers, particularly Gen Z, are embracing the circular economy, which emphasises reuse, resale, and repair. This shift is creating regenerative payment loops, where transactions encourage sustainable behaviour through micro-transactions and secure peer-to-peer payments. Examples include refill schemes, take-back programmes, and deposits for reusable items such as coffee cups. For consumers, these models make participation straightforward; for retailers, benefits include lower packaging costs and strengthened loyalty. Personalising payments, benefits and risk Payments and banking are increasingly designed to fit the consumer rather than the other way around. In 2026, tools and platforms will allow users to customise payment methods according to their spending habits and financial goals, such as using credit for large purchases and debit for everyday expenses. Insights drawn from billions of transactions, including nearly 160 billion in 2024, will enable personalised content and offers. Small businesses and borrowers with limited credit histories may also benefit from advanced analytics and permissioned open finance data to better assess creditworthiness. Enabling the instant economy for everyone, everywhere In-store checkout may become more seamless through biometric verification, while one-click online payments could be widely available by 2030, aided by global tokenisation that reduces manual entry and static passwords. Real-time payments are expanding with initiatives such as Mastercard Transaction Stream, which enables same-day settlement and improves capital availability. With cross-border payments projected to exceed US$250 trillion by 2027, innovation is expected in areas such as alias-based remittances and faster, more secure cross-border solutions, helping small businesses access international markets. Source: Mastercard     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wahyu_t via Freepik The post Top 6 Payment Trends in 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nubank has announced its intention to obtain a banking license in Brazil. The move brings a banking institution within the Nubank group and complies with Joint Resolution No. 17, issued by the Central Bank and the National Monetary Council, which standardises brand name usage for regulated entities. Nubank’s brand and visual identity will remain unchanged. The announcement will not affect clients, and all operations will continue as normal. Nubank serves more than 110 million customers in Brazil. Livia Chanes “Nubank was founded 12 years ago and has been responsible for the inclusion of 28 million individuals in the financial system. Our identity and mission to simplify our customers’ lives will remain the same,” said Livia Chanes, CEO of Nubank in Brazil. Nubank currently operates under all necessary licenses as a Payment Institution, a Credit, Financing and Investment Company, and a Securities Brokerage Company. The inclusion of a banking institution within the group does not materially change additional capital or liquidity requirements, and the company’s financial solidity and resilience remain unchanged. The decision reflects Nubank’s ongoing compliance with applicable regulations. It will allow the group to expand its regulated activities while maintaining its existing operations.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Samuel Costa Melo via Unsplash The post Nubank to Seek Banking License in Brazil appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

BlackRock, Visa, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have announced partnerships aimed at expanding cloud hosting and AI-driven capabilities for financial institutions and payment services. AWS will host BlackRock’s investment management platform, Aladdin, giving clients additional options for deployment. Aladdin, which firms widely use for portfolio management and risk analytics, operates independently of any single cloud provider. Sudhir Nair, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Aladdin at BlackRock, said, Sudhir Nair “The Aladdin platform is built to be cloud-agnostic, and Aladdin on AWS is a key step in enabling multi-cloud functionality. By expanding Aladdin to AWS, we are giving clients more choice in where and how they deploy their technology ecosystem.” Scott Mullins, Managing Director of Worldwide Financial Services at AWS, added, Scott Mullins “With Aladdin running on AWS, clients gain access to secure, scalable, and resilient infrastructure for advanced risk modeling, enterprise-grade analytics, and smart investment decision-making, while maintaining the highest security standards.” Amazon Treasury will be among the first adopters of Aladdin on AWS to manage Amazon’s global investment portfolio. General availability for Aladdin Enterprise clients hosted in the United States is expected in the second half of 2026. Separately, Visa and AWS are collaborating to enable AI agents to transact securely and autonomously on behalf of users. The partnership combines Visa’s payment infrastructure with AWS’s AI and cloud capabilities. It aims to simplify commerce and help developers create intelligent workflows for retail, travel, and payments. Amazon will publish open blueprints on the Bedrock AgentCore repository, enabling developers to build AI agents that handle multi-step transactions such as product discovery, secure checkout, and order tracking. Rubail Birwadker, SVP and Global Head of Growth at Visa, said, Rubail Birwadker “Visa Intelligent Commerce is designed to be the trust layer for the agent economy. With AWS’s scalable cloud capabilities and Visa’s global payment network, Visa Intelligent Commerce enables AI agents to transact securely and contextually at scale.” The collaboration includes industry partners such as Expedia Group, Intuit, lastminute.com, and Eurostars Hotel Company, working together to develop practical applications for AI-driven transactions across sectors.     Featured image credit: AWS The post BlackRock and Visa Expand Cloud and AI Capabilities with AWS appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched its first AI Live Testing initiative. The programme works with major firms to assess AI in a controlled environment and to better understand its benefits and risks in UK financial markets. The programme supports firms that are ready to deploy AI in live settings. Participants receive guidance from the FCA’s regulatory specialists and technical partner Advai to help develop, evaluate and implement AI systems responsibly. The first cohort includes Gain Credit, Homeprotect (Avantia Group), NatWest, Monzo, Santander, Scottish Widows (Lloyds Banking Group) and Snorkl. The testing focuses on practical questions around evaluation frameworks, live monitoring, governance and risk management. It aims to ensure that AI technologies are introduced in a way that protects consumers. It also seeks to maintain the integrity of markets. Many participating firms are trialling AI applications in retail financial services. These include tools designed to support debt resolution, deliver financial advice, enhance customer engagement and improve complaints handling. Other use cases examine how AI can help consumers make more informed spending and saving decisions. Jessica Rusu, Chief Data, Information and Intelligence Officer at the FCA, said: Jessica Rusu “Our new AI Live Testing service helps firms who are ready to use AI in live markets. By working closely with firms and our technical partner Advai, we’re helping to make sure that AI is developed and deployed safely and responsibly in UK financial markets.” Insights gained through the project will help shape the FCA’s future approach to AI and provide a clearer understanding of how the technology may influence the sector. The initiative complements the FCA’s Supercharged Sandbox, which supports firms still in the exploratory phase of AI development. Applications for the second AI Live Testing cohort will open in January 2026, with new participants able to begin testing in April 2026.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by DC Studio via Freepik The post FCA Launches First AI Live Testing Programme appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Regnology, a Frankfurt-based provider of regulatory reporting and supervisory technology, has completed its acquisition of Wolters Kluwer’s Finance, Risk & Regulatory Reporting (FRR) business. The move strengthens Regnology’s role as a reporting partner for financial institutions and regulators. The company said it will ensure continuity for FRR clients. It noted its experience in system migrations and its unified data model on a scalable SaaS platform. The acquisition aligns with Regnology’s plan to combine regulatory expertise with technology development. Its recently launched RRH Ascend platform uses a cloud-native design, automation tools, and AI-driven insights to support regulatory data management. The integration of FRR’s OneSumX for Finance and OneSumX for Risk expands Regnology’s offering for CFOs and CROs. These systems add accounting and reporting functions, real-time financial data processing, and risk analytics aligned with global standards, enabling institutions to manage financial and risk data more comprehensively. Rob Mackay, CEO of Regnology, said: Rob Mackay “This acquisition significantly strengthens our regulatory reporting capabilities while expanding our ability to serve Chief Financial Officers and Chief Risk Officers with a broader suite of tools. By integrating additional finance and risk functionalities, we enable institutions to deliver greater transparency, resilience, and strategic value across the organisation.” Regnology said it looks forward to welcoming staff from Wolters Kluwer FRR. The company now has more than 2,000 employees in 30 countries and serves clients in over 100 markets, including global banks, local institutions, and financial authorities.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by snowing via Freepik The post Regnology Finalises Wolters Kluwer FRR Acquisition appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Red Hat has expanded its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The partnership supports enterprise-grade genAI on AWS using Red Hat AI and AWS AI hardware. The partnership aims to give organisations flexibility in running high-performance AI inference at scale, independent of underlying hardware. The growth of genAI is prompting organisations to reassess their IT infrastructure. The collaboration combines Red Hat’s platform capabilities with AWS cloud infrastructure and AI chipsets, including AWS Inferentia2 and AWS Trainium3. The Red Hat AI Inference Server, powered by vLLM, will run on these chips, providing a common inference layer that supports any genAI model. According to Red Hat, this setup can deliver up to 30–40% better price performance compared with GPU-based Amazon EC2 instances. In collaboration with AWS, Red Hat developed an AWS Neuron operator for Red Hat OpenShift, OpenShift AI, and OpenShift Service on AWS. This provides a supported path to run AI workloads with AWS accelerators. Red Hat also released the amazon.ai Certified Ansible Collection for Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. It helps orchestrate AI services on AWS. The companies are contributing upstream to optimise an AWS AI chip plugin for vLLM. Red Hat, as the top commercial contributor to vLLM, aims to accelerate AI inference and training. vLLM also forms the basis of llm-d, an open source project for scalable AI inference, which is now included in Red Hat OpenShift AI 3.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by drobotdean via Freepik The post Red Hat Expands AWS Partnership for Enterprise GenAI appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Zepz, a London-based payments group behind WorldRemit and Sendwave, has launched stablecoin-linked Visa cards, in partnership with Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure platform owned by Stripe. The cards allow Sendwave Wallet customers to spend their digital-dollar balances at merchants worldwide. Zepz has also signed an agreement with Stripe to expand into markets including the US, Canada and Australia. The Sendwave Wallet, launched in October 2025, is a stablecoin-backed peer-to-peer money platform available in more than 100 countries. It allows customers to send, store and spend funds while avoiding currency volatility and offering near-instant transfers within the Sendwave network. Using Bridge’s technology, Zepz will enable customers to use their stablecoin balances for everyday purchases. Bridge converts the stablecoins to local currency at the point of transaction, so merchants receive payment as they would for any standard Visa card transaction. Mark Lenhard, CEO of Zepz, said: Mark Lenhard “By leveraging Bridge’s infrastructure, Sendwave customers can use their digital dollar balance to not just send, receive and hold funds but also to spend them as an integral part of their daily lives. This isn’t just about moving money, but giving people better access, more stability and financial choice in their daily lives through a simple and trusted experience.” Bridge’s platform connects stablecoin wallets to global payment networks, providing instant access to funds without the need to transfer money to a separate account. The card is expected to be available in select markets, including Brazil, in early 2026. Zach Abrams, CEO and co-founder of Bridge, said: Zach Abrams “Global fintechs like Zepz shouldn’t have to spend years launching cards from scratch in every country. With Bridge, Zepz can launch card services quickly and expand to new countries with just a few lines of code.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Zepz Launches Stablecoin-Linked Visa Cards appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.