It only took one glitch for Europe’s banking system to slam the brakes on PayPal. In a single day, German lenders froze more than €10 billion in transactions after suspicious payments slipped through the platform’s defences. For a payments giant built on trust, it was a jarring moment. PayPal’s fraud filters, normally tasked with blocking rogue direct debits, failed. What followed was a scramble across European banks to contain the damage, leaving merchants, consumers, and regulators caught in the crossfire. The disruption began when banks noticed a sudden surge of suspicious debits flowing out of PayPal accounts. Institutions such as Bayerische Landesbank, Hessische Landesbank, and DZ-Bank were among the first to pull the plug, suspending direct debits linked to PayPal until the situation became clear. The German Savings Banks Association confirmed that millions of unauthorised transactions had been initiated through PayPal, forcing lenders to block payments en masse. At one point, according to Tech Radar, the total frozen reached a jaw-dropping €10 billion. Regulators were quickly looped in as the issue rippled across Germany and beyond. PayPal admitted to what it called a temporary service interruption. In a statement, the company said it had identified the cause, restored its systems, and was working with banking partners to update accounts. By Tuesday, services were largely back to normal. But by then, the incident had already drawn headlines across Europe and rattled the financial sector. Businesses Across the Continent Felt the Pinch as Payments Failed to Arrive Behind the headlines were real-world consequences. Merchants relying on PayPal to receive funds suddenly found themselves short on cash. Online retailers reported delays in payouts, which in turn affected everything from stocking inventory to making payroll. For small businesses, the timing of payments can mean the difference between a smooth week and a financial crunch. Some were reportedly losing thousands of euros a day during the freeze. Consumers were hardly spared either. Routine bill payments, e-commerce purchases, and even personal transfers were caught in limbo as banks hit pause on anything that looked remotely suspicious. What is normally a background process (money flowing in and out without friction) was suddenly a visible and frustrating stoppage. Wall Street Watched Closely as Confidence in PayPal Took a Hit Investors didn’t ignore the drama. PayPal’s shares dipped 1.9% as the reports spread, reflecting concerns over both the technical lapse and its broader reputational cost. The payments firm processes more than a trillion dollars annually worldwide, so even a short disruption reverberates loudly. Competitors will no doubt be watching closely. Firms like Stripe and Adyen, which are vying for the same merchants and marketplaces, could seize the moment to position themselves as more reliable alternatives. In an industry where confidence and trust are everything, reliability can quickly become a selling point. The glitch has also sharpened the eyes of regulators. Germany’s BaFin confirmed it had been informed. Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), said there are no major problems happening right now that require it to get involved. However, they wouldn’t comment directly on PayPal, whose European base is there. Sources suggest that the European Central Bank is also paying attention, particularly in light of the Payment Services Directive, which demands robust anti-fraud measures from all providers. For PayPal, the technical issue may have been patched, and money seems to be flowing again. But the trust that underpins it may take far longer to unfreeze. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland based on images by mteerapat and romansigaev via Freepik. The post PayPal’s Glitch Puts €10 Billion on Ice Across European Banks appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Switzerland-based Amina Bank announced on X on August 29 that it had expanded its partnership with Circle through the Circle Alliance Programme, reinforcing its position in the stablecoin market. Regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the bank highlighted the scale of its involvement, stating: “Over the years, Amina has transacted billions in USDC and EURC through our FINMA-regulated banking system.” As reported by Bitcoin.com, Circle acknowledged Amina’s participation in the Alliance Programme, noting the bank’s role in bridging traditional and digital finance. Circle wrote: “Circle Alliance Program member Amina Bank is helping bridge traditional and digital finance with crypto banking. By supporting access to USDC and EURC, Amina helps individuals and institutions to transact with confidence across a global infrastructure.” Amina underscored its aim to strengthen trust in stablecoin use, saying: “As Circle continues to lead the way in stablecoin utility, Amina enables individuals and institutions to transact with confidence across a global infrastructure. We’re proud to stand alongside Circle in this journey.” The partnership reflects a shared vision of embedding stablecoins within a regulated, institution-ready framework. Amina has sought to distinguish itself through Swiss oversight and segregated custody, offering a degree of security compared to higher-risk or opaque custodial models common in the digital asset sector. Alongside the Circle partnership, Amina introduced a stablecoin rewards programme to complement its custody services. Clients holding at least 10,000 USDC or 10,000 EURC will be eligible for quarterly interest payments, distributed in the fiat currency backing the respective stablecoin. The minimum non-compounding rate is set at 0.2% annually, though US persons and residents of the European Economic Area are excluded. The bank has also expanded its digital asset offerings through a partnership with Ripple, becoming the first global bank to launch custody and trading for Ripple USD (RLUSD), further advancing its strategy of providing institutional-grade access to regulated stablecoins.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Circle via X The post Amina Bank Expands Circle Partnership and Launches Stablecoin Rewards appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Swissquote, a Swiss digital bank, has committed CHF 2.5 million to support the Zurich Information Security & Privacy Centre (ZISC) at ETH Zurich. The funding will bolster long-term research and education in information security, fraud prevention and data protection. With cybercrime evolving rapidly, particularly through the rise of AI-driven fraud, financial institutions and service providers face growing challenges. ZISC brings together researchers and industry partners to develop new technologies, methods and strategies to counter digital threats. Swissquote’s contribution is intended to advance the development of security solutions and strengthen the exchange of knowledge between research and practice. According to the bank, this will help build “a trustworthy digital infrastructure” and safeguard sensitive data and assets.   Featured image credit: Swissquote The post Swissquote Commits CHF 2.5M to ETH Zurich’s Cybersecurity Research appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Lakestar, a Zurich-based venture capital firm known for early investments in Spotify and Revolut, has closed a US$265 million continuation fund, anchored by secondary market specialist Lexington Partners alongside Industry Ventures and Performance Equity Management. According to Tech Funding News, the oversubscribed fund allows Lakestar to transfer stakes from four existing funds into the new vehicle, extending its exposure to portfolio companies while providing liquidity to limited partners seeking an exit. Such structures are becoming increasingly common as IPO markets remain subdued and exit horizons lengthen. Lakestar has not revealed which portfolio companies were included in the continuation fund, though sources suggest only partial stakes were transferred, enabling the original funds to retain upside potential. Klaus Hommels, Lakestar’s founder and chairman, described the fund as among the largest continuation vehicles in the European venture capital sector. Hommels, who invested early in Facebook and Skype, also serves as chair of the NATO Innovation Fund. The development reflects broader industry trends. US firms such as General Catalyst, Lightspeed, and NEA have launched similar continuation funds, while European player HV Capital closed a €430 million vehicle in 2022. In parallel, Lakestar is raising a separate US$300 million fund aimed at European defence technology companies, tapping into heightened defence spending across the region.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Lakestar Closes $265M Continuation Fund appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Spendbase, a Google-backed fintech company based in the US that helps businesses reduce spending on SaaS and cloud services, has entered into a strategic partnership with Wayliv, a Spain-based relocation platform that supports individuals, companies, and organisations in moving and establishing operations in Spain. As part of the collaboration, Wayliv clients will gain access to Spendbase’s neo-banking services, aimed at simplifying company formation. One of the key requirements for registering a business in Spain is opening a bank account, a step that can now be completed through Spendbase. Andrew Alex “Relocation and business setup are often complex, and opening a bank account can be one of the most time-consuming hurdles. By partnering with Wayliv, we’re removing friction from this process and making it easier for companies to establish themselves in Spain,” said Andrew Alex, CEO of Spendbase. Through the integration, Wayliv clients will be able to set up bank accounts more efficiently, access savings on SaaS and cloud tools, and use virtual corporate cards with cashback features. Jon Oyarbide Mendieta “Our mission at Wayliv is to make relocation and non-core business operations hassle-free, in Spain, for now. Partnering with Spendbase means Patrons [Wayliv’s client designation] are not left to navigate the bureaucratic, legal, and financial setup on their own. They can launch and manage their businesses in Spain faster and simpler, like nowhere else,” said Jon Oyarbide Mendieta, Managing Partner at Wayliv.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Max Harlynking via Unsplash The post Spendbase Partners with Wayliv to Streamline Business Setup in Spain appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Gemini, the global digital asset platform, has made staking for Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) available to users in the UK. This development allows UK users to participate in the crypto ecosystem and earn passive income through the Gemini platform, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region following the opening of its first permanent UK office in London. Staking is an integral component of the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, in which users deposit cryptocurrency to validate transactions on a blockchain network and receive rewards in return. Through Gemini Staking, UK users can now stake any amount of ETH or SOL, earning up to 6% annual percentage rate (APR) for SOL, with ETH offering a variable rate. Previously, staking in the UK required a minimum of 32 ETH through Staking Pro. Gemini Staking is designed to provide users with flexibility and security. Rewards are accrued daily, and the process for staking ETH or SOL can be completed via the Gemini app or web platform. Gemini emphasises institutional-grade security measures and secure custody of assets, allowing users to participate in staking without managing private keys. To begin staking, users can navigate to the relevant sections for ETH or SOL within the Gemini app or website, select their preferred staking option, and choose whether to stake existing holdings or purchase additional crypto for staking.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Gemini Opens ETH and SOL Staking to UK Users appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

McLaren Racing has announced that Mastercard will become the Official Naming Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team from 2026. From next season, the team will be known as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team. As part of the expanded partnership, Mastercard will introduce ‘Team Priceless’, a global initiative designed to provide fans with access to team activities across the race calendar. Selected supporters will be able to take part in experiences such as hot laps, driver meet-and-greets, and events highlighting the culture of host cities. Further information on Team Priceless and its selection process will be released in due course. To mark the new phase of the partnership, Mastercard is staging a live fan event in Amsterdam on Wednesday, 27 August, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix. The event will feature appearances by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as well as live performances. Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said: Zak Brown “There is no one more important to us than our fans, so I could not be more delighted to enter this next chapter in our partnership with Mastercard with a promise to our Papaya Family around the world: that we will continue to put our fans first, bring them even closer to the team, and offer incredible experiences. Mastercard is a fantastic partner who shares our passions and values, so to have them on board as naming partner will offer us the perfect launch pad to keep pushing on and off track, and I cannot wait to see Team Priceless come to life in 2026.” Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, added: Raja Rajamannar “Our partnership has been grounded in putting fans in pole position since day one, and becoming the Official Naming Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team takes that commitment to the next level. McLaren Racing represents the pinnacle of innovation, precision, and performance, values that mirror our own as we push boundaries and deliver winning experiences.”   Featured image credit: Mastercard The post McLaren to Compete as McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team from 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Tenity has announced the latest cohort joining its European Fintech Accelerator, reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s most active early stage investors. From 433 applications, ten startups have been selected to receive funding, resources and market access to support their growth and international expansion. The cohort reflects a broad range of innovation in financial technology, including regulatory technology, insurance, wealth management, infrastructure, banking, crypto and web3, investing and quantum finance. Each founder is working to address challenges within the financial ecosystem and to introduce solutions with the potential to scale. Tenity invests up to €300,000 in each startup and provides hands on support, investor introductions and access to partners such as UBS, SIX and Ripple. In addition to funding, the startups will take part in a four month programme running from 25 August to 5 December 2025, offering practical knowledge, tools and connections across Europe’s main hubs. With access to markets in Zurich, London and Copenhagen, participants benefit from cross border opportunities. The programme includes four in person masterclass weeks focused on growth, product development, traction and fundraising. Tenity’s approach focuses on long term value creation, traction and sustainable growth. With six hubs worldwide and a network of more than 1,600 alumni startups, it has become a platform for founders aiming to expand internationally. Andrea Fritschi “This cohort reflects the depth and maturity we are looking for in the European fintech landscape. At Tenity, we do not just invest capital, we partner with founders to build enduring, scalable companies. With this group, we see the potential to shape the future of financial services across borders and beyond silos,” said Andrea Fritschi, Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer at Tenity. Meet the 10 startups:   eIDeasy| Estonia eIDeasy simplifies digital identity and eSignature integration by offering a unified API platform that connects businesses to 80+ global providers through a single integration and contract. This drastically reduces complexity, speeds up deployments, and ensures compliance with stringent eIDAS regulations, all while cutting costs and time- to-market.     Vinlivt | Germany Vinlivt enables insurance distributors to instantly onboard and manage their portfolios through native integrations with major broker pool platforms such as Broker-Pools, CRM-Systems. By connecting directly into these existing workflows, Vinlivt reduces onboarding from weeks to minutes, eliminates manual data transfer and boosts broker retention.     WarrenCloud | Estonia Warren tackles the growing challenge faced by small and mid-sized data centers that struggle to offer modern cloud services without expensive enterprise licenses or complex DIY platforms. By unlocking latent local infrastructure with a plug-and-play, white-label cloud OS, Warren enables providers to deliver scalable, compliant, and cost-effective cloud under their own brand, offering a decentralized alternative to hyperscalers that meets regional data sovereignty and payment needs.     Swisspaytech | Switzerland Paid247 is revolutionizing payments in Telegram with a secure, seamless mini dApp that enables instant peer-to-peer and merchant transactions in crypto and fiat. By integrating directly into the world’s fastest-growing messaging platform, we’re capturing a massive, under-served user base already transacting socially. Their model blends transactional revenue with subscription-based merchant tools, and early traction shows strong adoption potential.     Equis | Italy Equis tackles the succession crisis in aging economies by acquiring profitable SMEs through a tech-enabled HoldCo structure and gradually transitioning part of the ownership to employees. This model preserves business value, boosts employee alignment, and ensures long-term sustainability amid a wave of SME closures.     CrypDefi | Belgium CrypDefi provides the fastest, most secure DeFi access layer for institutions, enabling seamless interaction across 40+ chains with sub-30ms latency. Designed to integrate with existing custody solutions, it accelerates DeFi adoption by delivering audit-grade infrastructure, granular policy enforcement, and compliance-ready workflows.     Groundley | Denmark Groundley is transforming enterprise procurement with an AI-native data infrastructure layer that unlocks real-time, line-item visibility from ERP systems. By turning vague product codes and PDFs into enriched, actionable spend intelligence, we replace slow, consulting-heavy processes with instant, scalable automation. Their proprietary AI models classify transactions, surface savings opportunities, and automate compliance, powering better sourcing, cost optimization, and ESG reporting.     Ariadne | Switzerland Ariadne is a cloud-native, contract-centric finance platform that unifies transaction processing and real-time analytics in one ACTUS-standardized ledger. Their SolitX and AnalytX modules replace fragmented core systems, eliminating reconciliations, accelerating compliance, and enabling instant risk simulations across any asset class. We help financial institutions go from proof-of-concept to production in weeks, not years.     WealthAI | United Kingdom WealthAI is the category-leading AI Operating System for wealth management, combining an agentic, natural language front- end (delivered as a browser extension) with a robust API gateway and a curated marketplace of partner applications. This unified platform transforms fragmented, legacy processes into seamless, proactive digital workflows for wealth managers, portfolio managers, and compliance teams.     Quantum Signals | France Generate accurate short-term (1 minute to 5 hours) predictions of key market characteristics (price trend, liquidity, volatility) that can help quants and traders capture more alpha, optimize order execution, and improve hedging.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post Tenity Selects 10 Startups for European Fintech Accelerator appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Zinsli Finance, a Zurich-based fintech specialising in digital rental deposit solutions, has entered into a partnership with Wincasa, a real estate service provider in Switzerland. The aim is to simplify the digital management of rental deposits and improve administrative processes for property owners, partners, and tenants. At the core of the collaboration is the integration of Zinsli’s platform into Wincasa’s service offering. Zinsli provides a fully digital and regulated system for rental deposit accounts, enabling property managers to open deposit accounts and insurance policies automatically, while operating within a compliant framework. For tenants, the solution allows rental deposits to be completed without paperwork, within a short timeframe, and with access to different deposit products. Marc van Nuffel “Our collaboration with Wincasa takes rental deposits to a digital level, user-friendly, secure, and ready for the future,” said Marc van Nuffel, CEO of Zinsli Finance. Marco Kissling, Head of Digital Products & Ecosystems at Wincasa, added: Marco Kissling “Zinsli shares our vision and values of a fair, open, and digital rental deposit market. With their platform, we are laying the foundation to address current challenges and to design processes that are digital, consistent, and efficient, creating a flexible and fully automated ecosystem without the need to integrate every solution individually.” Zinsli contributes the technical expertise and scalable platform, while Wincasa provides its market presence and operational as well as digital capabilities. Together, the companies aim to create efficiencies for property owners, tenants, banks, and insurers.   Featured image credit: Zinsli The post Zinsli and Wincasa Partner on Digital Rental Deposit Management appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Algbra Labs, a UK-based Fintech-as-a-Service (FaaS) provider, has entered into a partnership with Moka United, the fintech subsidiary of İşbank, Türkiye’s private bank. The collaboration will support the UK launch of RUUT, a digital banking brand developed by Moka United as part of İşbank’s wider fintech strategy. The partnership marks an important step in Moka United’s international expansion and aligns with İşbank’s aim to provide inclusive, technology-driven financial services beyond Türkiye. Using Algbra Labs’ full-stack FaaS platform, RUUT will offer a secure and scalable digital banking service to customers in the United Kingdom. The agreement will enable RUUT to operate client accounts via Algbra’s partner banking platform and to launch customer-named accounts as an authorised electronic money distributor. Over time, RUUT is expected to become a fully licensed electronic money institution, with Algbra continuing to provide the underlying banking and payments infrastructure. Both parties aim to deliver a fully operational platform within six months. The UK-Türkiye financial corridor, which currently supports more than £28 billion in annual trade and remittance flows, is a central focus of the partnership. Bilateral trade in goods and services between the two countries exceeded £26 billion in 2024, and the UK remains one of Türkiye’s top five export markets. The UK is also home to nearly one million people of Turkish origin, whose ties strengthen this corridor and underline the potential for expanding digital financial services to support trade, remittances, and investment. Zeiad Idris, Chief Executive of Algbra, said: Zeiad Idris “We are proud to partner with Moka United, the fintech arm of Türkiye’s most established bank. RUUT is an exciting digital banking initiative, and we are delighted to provide the platform infrastructure to support its UK launch. This collaboration reflects the growing demand for values-led, high-compliance, and scalable financial technology.” Halim Memiş, Chief Executive of Moka United and RUUT, said: Halim Memiş “This partnership with Algbra Labs is a strategic milestone in our journey to expand globally. Through RUUT, we aim to deliver inclusive, user-friendly, and trusted digital banking experiences, beginning in the UK. Algbra’s technological excellence and shared ethical approach make them the ideal long-term partner.” The collaboration underscores Algbra Labs’ role in providing infrastructure that enables banks and fintechs to launch and scale digital services without compromising compliance or speed.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post Algbra Labs Partners with Moka United to Launch RUUT in the UK appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Fiat Republic Netherlands , a fiat-to-crypto payment infrastructure provider, has announced that its E-Money Tokens (EMTs) for the euro (ENEUR) and pound sterling (ENGBP) are now available to members. A US dollar version (ENUSD) is under development. The launch allows members to access liquidity in EUR, GBP and USD on a 24/7 basis in line with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The company has received approval from the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM), the Dutch financial markets authority, to provide custody, administration and transfer services for EMTs under MiCAR. This approval follows authorisation from the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) for the issuance and redemption of EMTs under its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. Together, these approvals make Fiat Republic one of the first firms in Europe authorised to provide regulated custody and administration of E-Money Tokens. MiCAR introduces safeguarding rules across the EU, requiring crypto businesses to hold a CASP licence and ensure the secure custody of customer funds. ENEUR and ENGBP are designed to meet these requirements through on-chain custodial wallets integrated into EagleNet, Fiat Republic’s settlement network, which provides uninterrupted access to liquidity. The tokens are pegged 1:1 to their respective currencies and operate within the EagleNet infrastructure, which also supports corporate liquidity wallets, transaction monitoring, cross-currency management and settlement between members. Adam Bialy, CEO and Founder of Fiat Republic, said: Adam Bialy “With MiCAR now in force, we’re enabling our Members to safeguard user funds and keep operations moving 24/7. ENEUR and ENGBP combine compliance, liquidity, and efficiency in one tool, and this is just the start of what EagleNet can deliver.”         Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ruslan_ivantsov via Freepik The post Fiat Republic Launches Euro and Sterling E-Money Tokens Under MiCAR appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Despite volatility and uncertainties, financial markets continue to innovate and adapt. According to a report by S&P Global, tokenization, artificial intelligence (AI) agents, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are among the most significant trends shaping the industry, noting their potential to broaden participation in financial markets, lower barriers to entry, and create more efficient, liquid, and interconnected systems. Tokenization is poised to make financial transactions faster, cheaper, and more transparent, while AI agents have the potential to enhance efficiency by automating decision-making. ETFs, meanwhile, are democratizing access to complex or novel assets, turning them into familiar, easily tradable instruments. Tokenization streamlines transactions The report identifies tokenization as a transformative technology capable of unlocking new efficiencies. By representing assets on a blockchain, tokenization allows payments and transfers to occur on the same ledger at the same time, shortening settlement time, reducing counterparty risks, and increasing back-office efficiency. Legacy financial market infrastructure main challenges and inefficiencies, Source: S&P Global, Jun 2025 S&P Global expects tokenization to develop in three phases. The first phase, from 2025 to 2028, will see tokenization first scale in the collateral operations of financial markets, where assets will be swapped for a cash payment instantly, bringing tangible commercial benefits to financial institutions involved with repo transactions and intraday liquidity management. Wider acceptance of tokenization, however, will depend on the acceptance of on-chain cash leg solutions, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), regulated stablecoins and tokenized deposits. These solutions will be critical for adoption, since relying on traditional payment rails undermines the benefits of tokenization. As these solutions mature, S&P Global expects digital bonds to be issued increasingly with on-chain delivery versus payment, allowing investors and issuers to capture efficiency gains. Overtime, CBDCs and stablecoins will eventually become ubiquitous in cross-border payments and corporate treasuries, reducing friction, cost and delay in existing systems. In the second phase, between 2027 and 2033, tokenization is expected to expand across the credit spectrum, moving from niche financial operations into broader applications such as private credit markets, cross-border payments, and securitizations. In this phase, tokenization will connect borrowers and lenders more efficiently, enabling innovations like investors using tokenized fund shares as collateral on decentralized lending platforms and the creation of fully on-chain collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) with real-time transparency. Finally, in the third phase, from 2031 and 2035, tokenization will converge with AI, enabling autonomous AI agents to participate in markets by transacting with one another. This could revolutionize asset management and capital markets by increasing access to alternative investments, simplifying downstream processes, and automating asset and value transfer between multiple parties. Furthermore, the use of AI in portfolio construction can help asset managers better tailor portfolios for investors according to risk tolerances, investment objectives, and liquidity needs. The market for tokenized real-world assets has grown significantly over the past years and is projected to accelerate even further over the next decade. Between 2025 and 2033, the market is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53%, soaring from US$600 billion to US$18.9 trillion, according to a new report by digital asset infrastructure provider Ripple, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). AI agents improve operational efficiencies AI agents, which refer to intelligent digital systems that are capable of making decisions and taking actions with minimal human intervention, have the potential to transform financial markets by enabling efficient, intelligent decision-making for market participants. These systems can process vast amounts of data quickly, increasing operational efficiency, and reducing errors. Agentic AI solutions can also improve price discovery by adjusting prices in real time based on supply and demand changes, and generate timely predictions, thereby optimizing pricing strategies, and expanding revenue opportunities. Agentic AI already exists today, but is primarily active in crypto markets through trading bots. According to the report, most of this activity has concentrated in smaller altcoin or meme-coin markets, with trading bots representing an average of 5% of daily trading volumes on decentralized exchanges on the Solana blockchain in 2025 so far. ETFs improve access to new assets Another key trend highlighted by S&P Global is ETFs. ETFs are well-known investment vehicles that trade on traditional exchanges and which offer a point of entry to new assets. These vehicles can own financial assets such as stocks, bonds, currencies, and/or commodities, a flexible structure which allows them to adapt to new trends and investment themes. This adaptability is evident in the rise of crypto ETFs. In January 2024, US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot bitcoin ETFs. These instruments generated a trading volume of US$4.7 billion on day one, reflecting their appeal and convenience. Investor demand for crypto ETFs has surged this year amid a sharp rise in the price of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin ETFs saw two consecutive days of over US$1 billion in inflows on July 10 and 11 as the cryptocurrency continued to hit new heights, reaching a record of US$120,000 on July 23, 2025. Beyond cryptocurrencies, ETFs of CLOs have also grown rapidly. These instruments, which were first launched in 2020, have doubled or even tripled in value quarter-over-quarter since 2023, reaching US$30 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of the first quarter of 2025. Assets under management of select CLO ETFs (US$M), Source: S&P Global, Jun 2025   Featured image by davidpinta9122 on Freepik The post Tokenization, Agentic AI Emerge as Top Trends in Financial Markets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Just Eat Takeaway.com has partnered with Swiss robotics company RIVR to pilot the use of autonomous ground robots for food deliveries. The company is the first on-demand delivery platform in Europe to test wheeled-legged hybrid robots equipped with Physical AI. The RIVR robot combines wheels for efficient movement with legs that enable it to climb stairs and kerbs. Using Physical AI, it can navigate different environments, avoiding obstacles such as bins or grass, and move safely around pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists. The robot travels at about 15 km per hour and is designed to operate in varied weather conditions, including rain, snow, heat, and wind. It has a 40-litre capacity, with an internal divider to prevent spillage, allowing it to transport larger orders. Deliveries follow a process similar to courier services. Restaurants place the order inside the robot, which is secured with a locking system. Customers unlock the cargo compartment upon its arrival, after receiving a notification. The robot is monitored in real time from a control centre and can be stopped instantly in an emergency, either automatically or by remote command. It is also equipped with lights and a flag to remain visible at all times. The pilot will begin in Zurich, Switzerland, with deliveries from local restaurant Zekis World. Just Eat Takeaway.com has indicated plans to expand robotic delivery services to other European cities later this year, with potential applications in retail and convenience deliveries. The initiative follows its drone delivery trials in Ireland with Manna. Zornitsa Chugreeva, Senior Global Innovation Director at Just Eat Takeaway.com, said: Zornitsa Chugreeva “Our vision is to empower everyday convenience, and we believe innovation is an important driver in bringing that vision to life. It drives our commitment to exploring, testing and integrating new services and technologies, all aimed at enhancing our proposition and driving an even better experience for our ecosystem.” Marko Bjelonic, Chief Executive Officer of RIVR, added: Marko Bjelonic “Our collaboration with Just Eat Takeaway.com is a glimpse into a future where automation blends naturally into our cities, helping people get what they need, when they need it. Physical AI allows our robots to understand and adapt to the real world. It’s a step toward making autonomous delivery not only efficient, but intuitive, safe, and truly human-centred.”   Featured image credit: Just East Takeaway.com The post Autonomous Robots Begin Food Deliveries in Zurich appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has revised how businesses are charged for using the WhatsApp Business Platform, making pricing more straightforward, cheaper in some areas, and more in line with industry-standard practices seen on other messaging channels. These changes are expected to make it cheaper and easier for businesses to use WhatsApp instead of SMS, potentially driving higher business adoption and creating new opportunities for conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance customer interactions, industry analysts say. Starting July 01, 2025, WhatsApp Business introduced a revamped pricing model, moving away from its old per-conversation pricing model. Previously, businesses paid a flat fee to send unlimited messages during a 24-hour conversation window. Under the new model, businesses are now charged on a per-message basis, with revised rates and volume-based discounts based on the type of message. At the same time, utility messages sent in response to a customer within the 24-hour service window are free, giving businesses more flexibility in how they interact with customers. This update is set to encourage more two-way conversations instead of just one-way alerts, says Juniper Research, a research firm specializing in high growth market sectors within the digital ecosystem. This will expand use case across customer service, post-purchase engagement, and commerce. As message volumes grow, businesses will likely rely more heavily on AI agents to automate customer interactions across WhatsApp, manage sales flows, and streamline support, making conversational AI a core component of the WhatsApp Business experience. Conversational AI poised for surge Conversational AI is a technology that enables machines to engage in natural, human-like conversations with users through text or speech interfaces. It relies on natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and deep learning to understand user inputs, generate appropriate responses, and mimic human conversation patterns. Common applications include voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa, enterprise virtual agents, and customer service chatbots. The sector has expanded rapidly over the past years, especially after the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Market research reflects this momentum, with Fortune Business Insights estimating that the global conversational AI market was worth a remarkable US$12.24 billion last year. This sum is set to increase by 19.3% in 2025 and reach US$14.6 billion, Juniper Research says. In retail, the surge of conversational AI is driven by multiple factors, including consumer preference for richer, interactive messaging experiences, and the rise of conversational commerce. Conversational commerce refers to commerce conducted through conversational interfaces, like messaging apps, leveraging AI-powered chatbots, live messaging, or voice assistants, to facilitate product discovery, support, and transactions directly within conversations In China, WeChat exemplifies of the model. WeChat is a messaging app that integrates several key features and capabilities including social media, payments, and e-commerce. It has become a key messaging channel for conversational commerce, allowing users to interact with brands via chats, either with live agents or AI bots, browse products, ask questions, and even complete purchases directly in the conversation using WeChat Pay. Juniper Research predicts that global spending over conversational commerce will grow substantially by nearly 90% between 2025 and 2029. In financial services, conversational AI adoption is being fueled by both internal and customer-facing applications. JP Morgan Chase, for example, launched in July 2024 LLM Suite, an internal AI assistant that assists more than 200,000 employees with idea generation and content drafting. Meanwhile, Bank of America has been running its proprietary conversational AI solution called Erica since 2018, assisting customers with banking tasks, providing financial advice, helping with transactions, and identifying savings opportunities. By April 2024, Erica had surpassed more than 2 billion interactions and helped over 42 million customers. Cheaper authentication Another key change in WhatsApp’s updated pricing model is the sharp reduction in the cost of authentication traffic, such as one-time passwords (OTPs). WhatsApp has introduced market-specific, category-based volume tiers for both utility and authentication messages, allowing businesses to benefit from lower pricing as their usage grows. In key markets like Brazil, India, and Indonesia, Juniper Research claims that the cost of sending authentication messages via WhatsApp is now just 15% to 30% of the cost of an equivalent SMS. This price advantage is expected to make WhatsApp the preferred channel for companies that rely on secure logins and identity verification, the research firm says. More businesses are set to route OTPs through WhatsApp first, making the messaging app a strong alternative to SMS, especially for large enterprises that must handle large volumes of messages.   Featured image by wichayada on Freepik The post Meta Revamps WhatsApp Business Pricing, Creating New Opportunities for Conversational AI and Commerce appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Sygnum, a global digital asset banking group, and Incore Bank, a Swiss B2B transaction bank with an extensive network of banks, financial intermediaries, fintechs and corporates, have announced an expanded partnership aimed at scaling and future-proofing their respective B2B banking networks. Since 2019, Incore Bank has partnered with Sygnum for regulated traditional securities custody and brokerage, as well as for providing secure custody for Sygnum’s asset management products. Under the terms of the expanded partnership, Incore Bank will enhance its digital asset services by utilising Sygnum’s modular B2B digital asset platform and institutional-grade services. Members of the Incore network will also gain early access to new products and secure infrastructure designed to support the adoption of additional asset classes. Both Sygnum and Incore were among the first Swiss banks to receive FINMA approval for digital asset banking services. The expansion of accessible digital asset services through both partners’ banking networks is expected to contribute to market depth and the integration of crypto assets into the broader economy. Fritz Jost, Chief B2B Officer at Sygnum Bank, said: Fritz Jost “Sygnum’s B2B infrastructure provides the security, scalability, and flexibility that the industry needs, as well as the innovative products that end-customers increasingly demand. Being ‘Future Ready’ is essential as the market accelerates, and we are proud to welcome Incore as a partner and to support them to continually expand and enhance their network’s digital asset infrastructure and offering.” Mark Dambacher, CEO of Incore Bank, said: Mark Dambacher “As a recognised B2B service provider for traditional and digital assets, it is our pleasure to expand our partnership with Sygnum as a dynamic global player to our community and partners for traditional asset services. In return, we are excited to broaden our range of crypto asset products by partnering with Sygnum, thereby strengthening Incore Bank’s digital asset offering.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Sygnum and Incore Bank Expand B2B Digital Asset Partnership appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Berlin-based digital bank N26 announced changes to its leadership team, with co-founder Valentin Stalf stepping down from his operational role as Chief Executive Officer. Following a transition period, he will join the N26 Supervisory Board. Stalf founded N26 together with Maximilian Tayenthal in 2013. Tayenthal will continue in his current position as a member of N26’s Executive Leadership Team and the Management Board of the N26 Group and N26 Bank. The two co-founders together retain almost 20% of the company’s shares. Stalf’s appointment to the Supervisory Board will be followed by the addition of further members in the coming months, alongside an expansion of the N26 management team. These changes build on the recent appointment of Jochen Klöpper, who will take up the role of Chief Risk Officer in December 2025. Current members of the Supervisory Board are Marcus W. Mosen (Chair), Déborah Carlson-Burkart, Peter Kleinschmidt and Jörg Gerbig. Valentin Stalf, Chief Executive Officer of N26, said: Valentin Stalf “My move to the Supervisory Board is a forward-looking decision to continue to best utilise my many years of experience and knowledge to strengthen N26. I will actively and passionately contribute to N26’s long-term leadership and strategic direction and will remain one of the largest N26 shareholders. The new role also offers me the opportunity to devote more time to my family office and other entrepreneurial pursuits. N26 now has a strong team that is very well positioned for the future.” Founded twelve years ago, N26 is now a digital bank in Europe employing around 1,500 staff and serving millions of customers. The changes come after a year in which the company broke even in summer 2024, reporting 40% revenue growth in its last financial year. Annual revenues now exceed €500 million, and N26 expects to remain profitable in the second half of 2025. N26 has also expanded its product offering, which includes digital banking services as well as savings and investment products such as fee-free trading, savings plans and cryptocurrency investments. Trading volumes have risen significantly and are expected to surpass €4 billion in 2025. In 2025, N26 also entered the mobile communications sector, offering local mobile plans and international eSIMs covering over 100 destinations, with monthly sales of 8,000 to 10,000 plans. Upcoming developments include new products for families, a redesigned app with a focus on wealth management, a premium subscription named N26 ICON, and further use of artificial intelligence to improve services and automation.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by noob via Freepik The post N26 Co-Founder Valentin Stalf to Step Down as CEO and Join Supervisory Board appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

US-based fintech firm Broadridge Financial Solutions has announced the acquisition of Signal, a UK company specialising in customer communications for financial services and social sector organisations. Mike Sleightholme “This is an important step toward globalising Broadridge’s digital communications solutions to better serve our clients with operations outside North America,” said Mike Sleightholme, President of Broadridge International. “The combination of Signal’s digital-first communications and strong relationships with UK financial services firms along with our proven scale and regulatory domain expertise transforms our ability to serve our global clients and extend our footprint in Europe.” Signal offers design, technology, and consulting services that support omni-channel communications for financial services and other organisations. Its technology and digital expertise assist clients in transitioning from legacy print systems, supporting digitisation and client engagement. Signal also provides an integrated shared service model, including fully outsourced print production, to support in-house teams. Barney Hosey “Growing expectations from both customers and regulators are driving the need to modernise and digitise the customer and investor experience,” said Barney Hosey, CEO of Signal. “Broadridge is a trusted and transformative partner to clients who shares our commitment to innovation. Its focus on providing a more holistic global customer communications experience, while delivering greater value to clients means we are very much aligned.” Broadridge serves nearly every major financial institution in North America and many globally, processing billions of communications annually. Its communications and customer engagement platform delivers digital and print experiences across industries including financial services, healthcare, utilities, telecoms, and insurance. Broadridge also leverages technology and regulatory expertise across jurisdictions to help clients meet evolving compliance requirements.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by pressfoto via Freepik The post Broadridge Acquires UK Customer Communications Firm Signal appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

TWINT has surpassed 6 million users as of mid-year, marking a new milestone in its adoption across the country. More than 6 million people in Switzerland now use TWINT to make payments via smartphone and to transfer money to friends, family and acquaintances. The app is accepted by a wide range of merchants, from restaurants and market stalls to online shops and public transport providers. Markus Kilb, Chief Executive of TWINT, said: Markus Kilb “We are delighted that more than 6 million users now benefit every day from the flexibility and digital sovereignty that TWINT offers them. Our goal remains to make life easier for people in Switzerland through digital payment innovations.” While the app is most frequently used at cash registers, TWINT is also commonly used for buying public transport tickets, paying for parking, and shopping at small local or specialist retailers. Alongside growth in overall user numbers, existing customers are increasingly using the app across more aspects of daily life.   Featured image credit: TWINT The post TWINT Surpasses 6 Million Users in Switzerland appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Around the world, financial services and insurance firms are deploying generative artificial intelligence (genAI) across a wide range of functions, products, and services, seeking increased efficiencies and improved customer experience. A new analysis by market intelligence CB Insights identified 100 real-world applications of genAI across 69 companies in banking, financial services, insurance, and payments, categorizing these applications into three main areas: core AI infrastructure, customer experience and engagement, and risk management and specialized operations. The analysis uncovered several trends in how financial institutions are adopting genAI, including the rise of cross-functional AI platforms, the prevalence of customer engagement and self-service applications, and the dominance of OpenAI and Microsoft in the genAI space. Categorization of 100 disclosed real-world genAI applications, Source: CB Insights, Jul 2025 Cross-functional genAI platforms According to the study, many financial services firms are prioritizing general-purpose genAI platforms. 24% of the 100 use cases identified focus on cross-functional genAI platforms, providing foundational genAI capabilities to employees across departments, and reflecting an emphasis on establishing the infrastructure for comprehensive AI adoption. A notable example is Klarna, the buy now, pay later (BNPL) company. Klarna has made ChatGPT Enterprise available to all its employees around the globe, with 90% of its workforce now using AI in their daily work. Adoption is widespread across departments, with communications, marketing, and legal teams seeing rates of 93%, 88%, and 86%, respectively, and a wide range of use cases being deployed, from building software to streamlining customer service. In February 2024, Klarna also separately launched an AI-powered assistant powered by OpenAI. The tool is designed to enhance the shopping and payments experience for Klarna’s 150 million consumers worldwide, and is capable of managing a range of tasks from multilingual customer service to managing refunds and returns, and promoting healthy financial habits. Within a few months, the assistant handled 2.3 million conversations, two-thirds of Klarna’s customer service chats, and cut average resolution times from 11 minutes to just 2. The initiative is projected to deliver US$40 million in profit improvement in 2024, all while maintaining satisfaction scores on par with human support. Other institutions that have implemented cross-functional genAI platforms include BNP Paribas, which has partnered with Mistral AI since September 2023 to deploy large language models for banking applications across customer service, sales, and IT; JP Morgan, which leverages AWS to support over 1,000 applications and 200,000 employees; and BBVA, which partnered with OpenAI in November 2024 to deploy 3,000 ChatGPT Enterprise licenses among its employees in Spain, with plans to extend this to other countries. Customer-facing genAI applications rise to prominence Customer-facing genAI applications, especially those focused on engagement and self-service, are also gaining traction. These genAI applications, which are used by customers to interact with a company, account for 16% of the 100 identified genAI applications in finance and insurance. Institutions including ING, Wells Fargo, and Truist demonstrate the potential of these solutions to handle millions of customer interactions. ING launched in September 2023 a genAI chatbot developed with McKinsey. The solution is designed to improve customer experience, and has helped 20% more customers avoid long wait times. ING aims to support 37 million customers across 40 countries with its genAI chatbot. Truist Financial, an American financial services company, introduced in 2022 Truist Assist, a virtual assistant that’s capable of answering more than 160 common client inquiries, such as locking and unlocking credit cards. Truist Assist supported over 1 million client conversations in Q1 2025, with over 80% resolved without human intervention, reflecting improved efficiencies. Wells Fargo launched in 2022, Fargo, a virtual assistant that helps customers with everyday banking needs via voice or text, handling requests such as help paying bills, transferring funds, providing transaction details, and answering questions about account activity. The tool, which uses Google’s conversational AI Dialogflow, handled 245.4 million interactions in 2024, more than doubling its original projections, Venture Beat reported. CB Insights expects the adoption of customer-facing genAI applications to accelerate as companies like Mastercard, Visa and PayPal deploy applications centered on so-called “agentic commerce,” where AI agents autonomously execute transactions on behalf of consumers. In April 2025, Mastercard announced the launch of its agentic payments program, Mastercard Agent Pay. The solution integrates AI-driven agentic commerce with secure payment technology, allowing AI agents to act on behalf of consumers or businesses, and make purchases, manage subscriptions, and handle transactions. Visa and PayPal are also experimenting with agentic AI solutions, with Visa testing automated consumer query responses, DigFin reported in June, while PayPal has just announced that it would process payments for automated shopping developed by the conversational search and discovery engine Perplexity, enabling users to buy products or services directly in Perplexity’s chat interface. OpenAI, Microsoft lead genAI landscape The analysis also revealed that OpenAI and Microsoft lead the genAI space, participating in 33% of the 100 genAI applications studied. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, claims nearly 700 million weekly active users for its AI-powered chatbot, up from 500 million in March, marking a more than fourfold year-over-year (YoY) surge in growth. The figure spans all ChatGPT AI products, free, Plus Pro, Enterprise, Team, and Edu, and comes as daily user prompts reaches 2.5 billion. OpenAI is the world’s second most valuable tech startup at US$300 billion, neck and neck with ByteDance, the owner of TikTok. The company is reportedly preparing to sell around US$6 billion in stock as part of a secondary sale that would value it at roughly US$500 billion, Bloomberg reported last week. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, having invested more than US$13 billion in the startup.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by sitthiphong via Freepik The post CB Insights’ Key Trends in Financial Institutions’ Adoption of GenAI appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Crypto assets have continued to gain importance over the past twelve months. Alongside notable price movements, the ecosystem in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein has expanded with a growing number of providers. The market is also attracting increased attention from institutional investors, according to a new study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU). By mid-2025, the total value of all crypto assets worldwide was around US$3.5 trillion. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, assets under management in indirect investment products such as funds or exchange-traded products rose to around CHF 15 billion by June 2025, representing an increase of about two-thirds within twelve months. The growth reflects not only rising prices but also broader acceptance of crypto assets as a separate asset class, according to Prof. Dr Thomas Ankenbrand, lead researcher of the study. The number of companies offering crypto-asset services in Switzerland and Liechtenstein grew from 359 to 407 over the same period, with more than 60 per cent based in the cantons of Zug and Zurich. Institutional investors such as banks, family offices, and industrial companies appear to be increasingly active in the market. Indicators such as larger trading volumes on weekdays and longer holding periods suggest growing institutional engagement, which could provide stability and credibility to the market. The study also examined historical performance of investment portfolios. Portfolios combining traditional assets, gold, and Bitcoin achieved the best risk-adjusted performance. The results indicate that Bitcoin has functioned more as a complement to gold rather than a substitute. However, the study notes that many portfolio optimisation approaches rely on historical data, highlighting the need for further analysis. Tokenised assets are attracting interest from the financial sector. In Switzerland, tokenised bonds and equities are already being issued and traded via regulated platforms. CHF-based stablecoins have not yet gained traction, but tokenised balance sheet items such as treasury bonds could offer new applications.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Jakub Żerdzicki via Unsplash The post Crypto Assets Reach $3.5 Trillion, Gain Momentum in Switzerland and Liechtenstein appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.