BBVA and OpenAI have formed a strategic alliance to explore the use of AI in financial services. The agreement, announced by BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, follows nearly two years of joint work and reflects a formal collaboration between the two organisations. Teams from both companies will work together on shared objectives and joint investments, with OpenAI supporting BBVA’s AI strategy to transform customer experience and optimise internal operations. Carlos Torres Vila “Our alliance with OpenAI accelerates the native integration of artificial intelligence across the bank to create a smarter, more proactive, and completely personalised banking experience, anticipating the needs of every client,” said Carlos Torres Vila during the signing at OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters. Under the agreement, OpenAI will have a role in co-creating solutions to advance BBVA’s AI-driven transformation. The bank will have preferential access to OpenAI’s advanced models, engineering, research, and development teams. Key initiatives include developing an intelligent conversational assistant to support customers in daily banking and setting a benchmark for engagement and service. The companies will also work on tools to help relationship managers provide personalised services. The collaboration extends to operational improvements, such as streamlining risk analysis and optimising software development and routine tasks. One project under consideration is a digital “alter ego” for employees, which would learn work patterns, track projects, and perform tasks under supervision. Sam Altman “With the expansion of our work together, BBVA will embed our AI at the core of its products and operations to enhance the overall banking experience for their customers,” said Sam Altman.     Featured image credit: BBVA The post BBVA and OpenAI Establish AI Collaboration in Banking appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Mollie, a Dutch financial services provider, has agreed to acquire UK-based bank payment company GoCardless. The combined entity will serve more than 350,000 businesses across Europe, offering card payments, local methods, and bank payments through a single platform. The deal is expected to close by mid-2026. The acquisition aims to address challenges faced by businesses with recurring revenue models or those expanding internationally. Fragmented payment infrastructure can increase costs and operational complexity. By integrating GoCardless’s bank payment network, Mollie intends to provide a single, scalable partner for businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to large enterprises. Koen Köppen, CEO of Mollie, said: Koen Köppen “A card-only approach has its limits, leading to high costs due to failed payments and customer churn. GoCardless built the definitive solution to optimize this process with its global bank payment network. By bringing them into Mollie, we take a huge step towards fulfilling our vision and creating one complete platform for sustainable growth.” Hiroki Takeuchi, co-founder and CEO of GoCardless, added: Hiroki Takeuchi “By combining our expertise in card, bank and hyperlocal payments into one provider, we can better serve our customers, accelerate growth and raise the bar for the industry.” The combined platform will support recurring revenue management by reducing payment failures, lowering transaction costs, and improving cash flow. SaaS platforms and vertical software vendors using Mollie Connect will be able to integrate GoCardless’s bank payment capabilities directly into their products. Local onboarding, integrations with regional software, and support for payment methods such as iDEAL in the Netherlands, Satispay in Italy, and Twint in Switzerland will remain in place. Mollie will phase the integration of GoCardless products, prioritising service continuity and localised support for all customers.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by 21vectors via Freepik The post Mollie to Acquire GoCardless, Expanding European Payment Services appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Zilch, a consumer payments platform, has obtained a payments services license from UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), allowing it to operate without reliance on third-party providers and develop payments methods in-house. The license comes as Zilch prepares to launch new products, including Zilch Pay in H1 2026, which will offer a one-click checkout experience, and Intelligent Commerce, an AI-powered platform that converts live engagement data into real-time insights. The FCA authorisation also provides the company with direct access to product roadmap discussions, early testing opportunities, and potential commercial partnerships. Philip Belamant “This is a major step change for Zilch, bringing us firmly into the payments tent and giving us a true seat at the table to shape the ecosystem,” said Philip Belamant, Co-Founder and CEO. “It opens the door to new opportunities, setting us up to move even faster, more efficiently and cost-effectively. In just five years, we’ve amassed over 5.3 million users and thousands of retail partners. Now with our license, we are better positioned to develop this further and take advantage of new innovations as they mature.” FCA licenses have become increasingly difficult to obtain, with Zilch subjected to scrutiny comparable to that of a new bank. In addition, Zilch has gained Principal Membership of Visa, reinforcing their ongoing collaboration. Recent months have seen Zilch raise over US$175 million in debt and equity, including an expansion of securitisation led by Deutsche Bank, and become the Official Way to Pay for Arsenal Football Club.     Featured image credit: Zilch The post Zilch Secures FCA License and Visa Principal Membership appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Klarna has made its payment options available via Apple Pay in France and Italy. Eligible shoppers can now select Klarna at checkout online, in-app on iPhone and iPad, or in-store using their iPhone. This follows prior launches in Denmark, Spain, Sweden, the US, UK and Canada, where Klarna’s flexible payments have seen widespread adoption. With this expansion, consumers in eight major markets can now use Klarna through Apple Pay, offering more choice in how they pay. Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-founder and CEO of Klarna, said: Sebastian Siemiatkowski “We’ve seen incredible excitement from consumers using Klarna on Apple Pay across the US, UK, and Canada, and more recently across the Nordics and Southern Europe. By delivering this capability to even more users and expanding to France and Italy, millions more people can choose the payment schedule that works best for them, all within the Apple Pay experience they already know and love.” Eligible customers can split purchases into three monthly instalments or pay up to 30 days later, without interest. For higher-value items, payments can be spread over a longer period, with competitive interest rates starting from 0%. Klarna applies its underwriting process before approval to ensure responsible lending. Payments made via Klarna on Apple Pay remain secure and private, with Apple not retaining any transaction information linked to the user.     Featured image credit: Klarna The post Klarna Expands Apple Pay Integration to France and Italy appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Mifundo, a pan-European credit-data platform headquartered in Estonia, and Taktile, a German-based agentic decision platform, have announced an integration designed to support banks in verifying cross-border credit histories and automating decision-making. The collaboration aims to help European lenders deliver faster, more consistent, and compliant credit assessments for customers with financial records spanning multiple countries. An estimated 45 million people in Europe live, work, or earn across borders, yet their credit histories are often confined within national systems. This can create challenges for banks, as evaluating foreign or thin-file applicants frequently requires manual review, extended checks, or cautious risk policies. The revised Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2) further emphasises the need for consistent, data-driven affordability assessments across EU member states. The integration combines Mifundo’s verified credit data, covering over 70% of Europe’s population, with Taktile’s decision platform. Banks can access reliable foreign credit histories through Mifundo and embed agentic AI into their lending strategies via Taktile. This allows institutions to automate underwriting, refine decision rules, and adjust risk policies in real time, while maintaining oversight. Kaido Saar “European banks need both trusted cross-border credit data and flexible decisioning infrastructure,” said Kaido Saar, CEO of Mifundo. “By combining Mifundo’s passportable financial identity with Taktile’s Agentic Decision Platform, lenders can reduce foreign-customer risk, comply with CCD2 expectations and unlock new revenue from Europe’s €719 billion cross-border lending market.” Maik Taro Wehmeyer “Risk and credit teams want greater control, speed, and transparency in their underwriting processes,” added Maik Taro Wehmeyer, Co-Founder and CEO of Taktile. “Through our integration with Mifundo, institutions can automate decisions for applicants whose credit data spans multiple countries, optimise policies continuously, and scale lending while maintaining rigorous risk oversight.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Trend2023 via Freepik The post Mifundo and Taktile Partner for Cross-Border Credit Assessments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Google DeepMind and the UK government have announced an expanded partnership to accelerate the application of AI across science, education, public services and national security. The collaboration aims to harness AI innovation to benefit society while supporting the UK’s long-term scientific and technological ambitions. The partnership will provide UK scientists with priority access to advanced AI models, including AlphaEvolve, AlphaGenome, AI co-scientist and WeatherNext. These tools support research across multiple disciplines, including coding, genomics, and weather forecasting. They build on previous breakthroughs such as AlphaFold, which has already been used by nearly 190,000 researchers in the UK. In 2026, DeepMind will open its first automated science laboratory in the UK, focused on materials science. The lab will integrate advanced robotics with AI to accelerate the discovery of novel materials that could transform energy, computing and medical technologies. The collaboration also seeks to enhance education through AI. In a Northern Ireland pilot, Gemini helped teachers save an average of ten hours per week while supporting improved student outcomes. Research will continue to explore how AI can complement the national curriculum and support educators. The UK government will also use AI to modernise public services and strengthen national security. Tools such as Extract are already streamlining council planning processes, and initiatives with the UK AI Security Institute aim to improve cyber resilience and understand societal impacts of AI. Through this partnership, Google DeepMind and the UK government hope to advance AI applications for societal benefit, scientific discovery and national security, while establishing a model for responsible innovation worldwide.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by fabrikasimf via Freepik The post Google DeepMind and UK Government Expand AI Partnership appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

On 3 December, the Supervision Committee of Latvijas Banka issued a license to BlockBen for the provision of crypto-asset services. BlockBen is the first crypto-asset service provider to be licensed in Latvia under the requirements of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). MiCA, which came into force in late 2024, establishes a unified legal framework for the crypto-asset sector across the EU, including mandatory authorisation for crypto-asset service providers. With its new license, BlockBen will be able to offer all permitted crypto-asset services in other EU member states in accordance with MiCA procedures. BlockBen operates a private closed blockchain that enables users to exchange crypto-assets for money or other crypto-assets, store crypto-assets, and conduct transfers. The company also provides a utility-token issuance service for businesses and allows these crypto-assets to be placed on its platform for customer purchase. Santa Purgaile, Deputy Governor of Latvijas Banka, said: Santa Purgaile “Latvijas Banka is open to the entry of new companies into Latvia’s financial sector. For companies seeking to obtain a licence in Latvia for the provision of crypto-asset services throughout the EU, Latvijas Banka provides professional consultations and promptly offers support during the pre-licensing and licensing stages, acknowledging that adapting business operations to the requirements of a new regulation can be quite challenging.” Latvijas Banka encourages prospective applicants to make use of its free pre-licensing consultations, where experts outline the relevant legal framework, required documentation and initial compliance considerations. This year, experts have held 50 consultations with companies preparing to offer crypto-asset services under MiCA. Five companies have submitted license applications, and 12 others are engaged in pre-licensing discussions.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by kundoy via Freepik The post Latvia Issues First MiCA License to BlockBen appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Trump Organization is planning a US$300 million luxury resort in the Maldives in partnership with a Saudi Arabian developer and intends to tokenise the hotel development project. Trump International Hotel Maldives will feature 80 ultra-luxury beach and overwater villas and will be built in collaboration with Dar Global. Bloomberg reported that the deal will also mark “the launch of the world’s first tokenised hotel development tied to the project.” Tokenisation uses blockchain technology to issue and transfer traditional assets, such as property ownership, and divides them into digital shares that investors can purchase as tokens. Dar Global’s Chief Executive, Ziad El Chaar, said the company is planning to sell tokens in a fund developing the project, which could offer investors greater upside compared with tokens in a completed development. He added that the total development value of the Maldives project is around US$300 million, with Dar Global retaining 30-40% ownership. In a previous interview, El Chaar explained that Dar Global’s partnerships with the Trump Organization on other projects generally involved brand fees as well as a portion of revenue from sales, while Dar Global finances construction and land acquisition. The latest initiative follows US President Donald Trump and his family’s expansion into the global crypto space. Trump has issued executive orders supporting the industry, and the United States has recently passed legislation on stablecoins. Dar Global, a London-listed subsidiary of a Saudi Arabian developer, aims to open the Maldives resort by the end of 2028. It will be 25 minutes by speedboat from the capital, Malé. “The project tokenises the development phase itself, offering investors the opportunity to participate in a high-growth, premium real estate project from inception,” the companies said. The Maldives development adds to a series of projects undertaken by the two firms under the Trump name, most of which are in the Gulf region, including Trump Towers in Jeddah and Dubai, as well as resorts, luxury homes and golf courses in Qatar and Oman.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Who is Danny and EyeEm via Freepik The post The Trump Organization to Launch $300M Tokenised Maldives Resort appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UBS has joined the public testnet launch of Tempo, a blockchain designed to support stablecoin-native payments with deterministic settlement and predictable, low fees. The testnet enables developers to build and trial payment applications using core features intended to address challenges that general-purpose blockchains often face, particularly for financial workloads. Tempo provides dedicated payment lanes, reserving blockspace at the protocol level for payments instead of letting them compete with other network activity. Users can pay transaction fees directly in USD-denominated stablecoins, eliminating reliance on volatile gas tokens and allowing applications to operate entirely in the same currency as the underlying flows. The network also includes a native decentralised exchange optimised for stablecoins and tokenised deposits, facilitating cross-stablecoin payments and consolidating on-chain liquidity. Transfers support structured metadata, simplifying reconciliation with existing accounting and enterprise systems, while fast Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus provides block finality in around half a second. UBS is among a group of early design partners validating payment workloads on Tempo, alongside companies spanning banking, commerce, and technology sectors. The testnet provides a platform for use cases such as cross-border remittances, global payouts, embedded finance, microtransactions, agentic commerce, and tokenised deposits. By integrating Tempo’s features, UBS and other partners can explore payments infrastructure with predictable settlement, stable fees, and real-time reconciliation capabilities. The testnet launch marks the next stage in Tempo’s development, with continued expansion of infrastructure partnerships, developer tooling, and stress-testing under real payment conditions. Tempo is built as a permissionless, decentralised chain, with an open-source client that allows anyone to run a node or interact with the network. Over time, validators from partner organisations and independent operators will join, supporting Tempo’s aim of enabling fast, reliable, and composable payments on-chain.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by farknot via Freepik The post UBS Joins Tempo Public Testnet to Explore Stablecoin Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

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.