Fintech Radar

Fintech Radar covers updates in financial technology, focusing on product launches, investment trends, regulatory changes, and strategic moves by companies. It highlights advancements in peer-to-peer payments, cryptocurrency, blockchain, app functionalities, regulatory impacts, and venture capital interest, showcasing a comprehensive overview of the global fintech landscape and its evolving nature.

Peer-to-peer Payments Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Financial Regulation Banking Technology Innovations Venture Capital in Fintech Digital Wallets and Payments Artificial Intelligence in Fintech Open Banking Buy Now Pay Later Services Fintech Mergers and Acquisitions

The hottest Substack posts of Fintech Radar

And their main takeaways

Issue #139: Revolut Eyes New Zealand Banking Licence, eToro Targets US IPO, And Pocket Money Goes Digital

4 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing Banking Payments Digital Currency
  1. Revolut is applying for a banking license in New Zealand to expand its services. This could help them offer more products and gain a larger market share there.
  2. eToro is planning a U.S. IPO after a previous attempt fell through. They are looking to enter the public market at a time when investor interest in fintech is growing.
  3. John Lewis launched a fun app called 'Pocket Money Pet' to help kids learn about money. It's a creative way to teach kids saving and budgeting skills early on.

Issue #137: Klarna’s U.S. IPO Plans, Nubank Hits 100M Users, And PayPal Gets Collaborative

6 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing Banking Cryptocurrency Economic Trends
  1. Klarna has filed for an IPO in the U.S., hoping to attract more investors. This comes after difficult years, but they're now showing profitability.
  2. Nubank has grown to over 100 million customers in Brazil, showing how digital banks can successfully compete with traditional ones. They've expanded their services beyond just credit cards.
  3. PayPal has introduced a new feature for group money pooling, making it easier for users to manage shared expenses. This move highlights how big companies can absorb features that startups were trying to create.

Issue #136: Affirm Arrives In The UK, Block Ramps Up Afterpay, And Coinbase Partners With Visa

6 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investments Payments Crypto Banking
  1. Affirm is now in the UK, partnering with Amazon to offer buy now, pay later options. This move puts them up against established competitors like Klarna and Afterpay.
  2. Block is enhancing its Cash App by integrating Afterpay, making it easier for users to manage payments. This could help Block maximize the value of its Afterpay acquisition.
  3. Coinbase teamed up with Visa for real-time deposits, allowing quick transfers into user accounts. This partnership is a significant step for improving the user experience in crypto trading.

Issue #138: Robinhood Acquires TradePMR, Revolut’s ATM Play, And UPI Continues To Go Global

2 implied HN points • 28 Nov 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing Banking Payments Startups
  1. Robinhood has bought TradePMR to expand its services for financial advisers, showing it's serious about growing in the wealth management area. This move is part of a wider trend where fintech companies are trying to offer more services to their users.
  2. Revolut is planning to introduce an AI assistant, branded ATMs, and mortgage options by 2025. These additions reflect their aggressive approach to compete in the traditional finance space beyond just banking.
  3. Google Pay is now incorporating buy now, pay later options from Afterpay and Klarna. This shows that big tech companies want to partner with existing services instead of directly competing in the financial sector.

Issue #133: Stripe To Buy Bridge For $1.1B, Apple Pay Adds Klarna, And Brex Partners With Navan

6 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing Banking Cryptocurrency Insurance
  1. Stripe is buying Bridge for $1.1 billion to enhance its stablecoin services. This shows Stripe's big plans to grow its role in international payments.
  2. Apple Pay is teaming up with Klarna to allow users to split payments into four interest-free installments. This move signals Apple’s shift back to focusing on partnerships for better payment options.
  3. Brex is partnering with Navan to make travel payments easier for businesses. This collaboration aims to simplify expense management by integrating payment solutions directly into travel bookings.
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Issue #135: Robinhood Launches Election Contracts, NVIDIA Tackles Fraud, And Moniepoint Joins the Unicorn Club

4 implied HN points • 06 Nov 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing AI Payments Market Trends
  1. Robinhood has launched contracts for betting on the U.S. presidential election, allowing users to trade on candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This move taps into the growing interest in prediction markets during election cycles.
  2. Hong Kong has introduced a framework for AI in finance to ensure responsible use, data privacy, and collaboration with universities. This trend might inspire other markets to set similar guidelines for AI in financial services.
  3. NVIDIA is now using AI to detect fraudulent credit card transactions in real-time. This development shows how AI is making it easier for companies outside of traditional finance to tackle fraud prevention.

Issue #134: Western Union Acquires Dash, Morgan Stanley’s AI Push, And Finix’s New Funding Round

4 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💰 Finance Fintech Investing Payments Banking Insurance
  1. Western Union is buying Dash, a mobile wallet in Singapore, to expand its digital services. This shows how much the remittance business has changed with more competition from apps.
  2. Goldman Sachs and Apple are being fined nearly $90 million over issues with the Apple Card, which could hurt their future plans. It highlights the challenges Goldman faces in consumer banking.
  3. Morgan Stanley launched an AI assistant to help its staff analyze research reports faster. This shows how traditional finance is integrating AI to improve efficiency.

Issue #95: X Is Getting Into P2P Payments, Circle Files For An IPO, And Revolut Gains Interest In Its HR Tech Offering

18 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments IPO
  1. Twitter (X) plans to introduce peer-to-peer payments, a logical starting point given its large user base and commerce opportunities
  2. Revolut's HR platform, Revolut People, attracts over 300 companies to its waitlist, surprising with strong interest in the offering
  3. Mastercard is developing an AI tool for small businesses, showing a cautious approach amid a potential trend towards more AI-focused innovations in the market

Issue #94: Visa Unveils A Web3 Loyalty Program, HSBC Launches A Forex App Called Zing, And Consumer Advocates Take Aim At The Starbucks App

14 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Banking Cryptocurrency Investment Startups
  1. Visa introduces a Web3 loyalty program to reward customer interactions.
  2. HSBC launches a forex app named Zing to compete with fintechs like Revolut and Wise.
  3. Consumer advocates file complaint against Starbucks app, alleging deceptive practices in trapping customers to spend more.

Issue #101: Capital One To Buy Discover For $35.3b, Monzo Eyes £4b Valuation, And FairMoney In Talks To Buy Umba

6 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Fintech Investments Acquisitions Startups Compliance
  1. Capital One's acquisition of Discover for $35.3 billion aims to boost competitiveness in the payments network but may face regulatory challenges due to concerns about bank consolidation.
  2. Monzo's potential £4 billion valuation in a funding round signifies ongoing investor interest in neobanks adapting to profitability and growth in the consumer fintech market.
  3. FairMoney's talks to buy Umba in a $20 million deal show a trend of consolidation in fintech markets like Africa, where companies navigate challenges to serve a growing demand for digital financial services.

Issue #100 🎉 🥳 : Revolut Expands Into Offering eSIMs, FIS Partners To Offer A2A Payments, And Temenos Gets Hindenburged

6 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Banking Startups Investment
  1. Revolut ventures into telecom by introducing phone plans in the UK with eSIMs, aligning with its all-encompassing super app vision.
  2. FIS partners with Banked to offer pay-by-bank solutions, a move towards A2A payments that could challenge traditional card schemes.
  3. Temenos faces allegations from Hindenburg Research, highlighting the challenges in large corporate tech transformations and the need to address accusations.

Issue #98: Apple Card Tops 12m Users, Ramp Announces An Acquisition, And Mastercard Launches A Gen AI Tool

6 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Acquisitions
  1. Apple Card has over 12 million users and provided $1 billion in cashback rewards last year, showing challenges in acquiring users for embedded financial services.
  2. Fintech Ramp's acquisition of Venue highlights the competition in SMB banking to be a central hub for financial operations.
  3. Mastercard introduces Decision Intelligence Pro, using Gen AI to enhance transaction risk assessment, indicating the potential for Gen AI in compliance within the fintech sector.

Issue #97: PayPal Fails To Excite The Market With Its New Features, TikTok Wants Every Post To Be Shoppable, And Klarna Drops A Subscription Product

6 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
💰 Finance Fintech Payments Subscription Mergers & Acquisitions Investments
  1. PayPal failed to impress the market with its new features, losing momentum after an initial spike in stock value.
  2. TikTok is testing a feature to make every post shoppable, aiming to boost its e-commerce business with enhanced shopping experiences.
  3. Klarna introduced a $7.99 subscription plan 'Klarna Plus' to generate recurring revenue as it gears up for its IPO, reflecting mixed opinions on the BNPL industry.

Issue #90: The ASX Turns To Tata For Help With CHESS Replacement, The FCA Gives Go Head To Klarna For Payment And Credit Services, And The Definitive Podcast On Visa

8 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
💰 Finance Regulation Funding Insurtech Payments Blockchain
  1. Governments are tightening regulations on BNPL services, impacting fintech firms.
  2. Consumer-facing fintech startups face challenges in a crowded market, leading to pivots.
  3. Nubank's innovative offering of transferring credit card limits for personal and business use showcases opportunities in fintech.

Issue #86: Musk Wants X To Replace Your Bank, JPM Coin Is Now Handling $1b In Daily Transactions Volume And Catch Relaunches

8 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
💰 Finance Fintech Investment Banking Payments Insurtech
  1. Elon Musk plans to turn Twitter into a financial app called X by 2024.
  2. Monzo is in talks to sell a stake in the company worth over £300m to prepare for an IPO.
  3. JPMorgan's JPM Coin handles $1 billion in daily transactions, showing slow but significant growth in blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

Issue #91: Robinhood Is Opening Up Shop in The UK, Apple and Goldman Sachs Look To Be Parting Ways, And Aussie Banks Partner On Scam-Safe Accord

6 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
💰 Finance Fintech Investment Technology Climate Insurance
  1. Aussie banks unite to combat scams and improve security measures for customers
  2. Robinhood expands into the UK with commission-free trading offering for US-listed stocks
  3. Apple and Goldman Sachs seem to be parting ways as Goldman Sachs shifts focus away from retail banking

Issue #89: Mastercard Makes Moves In China, Wise Posts A Healthy H1 Result, And Adyen Launches A New Product In Australia

6 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
💰 Finance Fintech Investment Startups Insurtech Accounting
  1. Wise reported impressive financial results for H1 2023 with quadrupled pre-tax profits, showing success in expanding beyond peer-to-peer money exchange.
  2. Adyen launched Capital in Australia, recognizing the growing demand for embedded financial services in platform businesses.
  3. Mastercard received approval for bankcard clearing in China, a big step to settle transactions directly and establish presence in the Chinese market.

Issue #76: The UK Wants To Drop £1b On Late Stage Fintech Startups, Nubank Posts Record Revenue And BitGo Secures The Bag

8 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23
💰 Finance Fintech Investments Banking Regulation Crypto
  1. The UK is investing heavily in late-stage fintech startups with a £1 billion fund.
  2. Investors are cautious about valuing FinTech companies due to global economic concerns.
  3. Nubank has achieved record revenue growth and increased customer base, while BitGo has secured a significant funding and valuation.

Issue #85: Goldman Sachs Regrets The Apple Card, The CFPB Proposes A s1033 Uplift, And Australia Outlines A Licensing Regime for Crypto Exchanges

6 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
💰 Finance Regulation Acquisitions Funding Startups Partnerships
  1. CFPB is proposing a rule to accelerate the shift towards open banking for consumer data control and protection.
  2. Australia is planning to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges by requiring them to hold financial licenses.
  3. Goldman Sachs is regretting its Apple Card partnership due to financial challenges and is considering exiting consumer lending.

Issue #82: Apple Explores Open Banking In The UK, Ant Group Launches A Pan-Asian Mobile Wallet, And Nova Credit & HSBC Collaborate on Cross-Border Credit Sharing

6 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
💰 Finance Fintech Banking Payments Investments Regulation
  1. Apple introduces feature allowing UK users to view bank account balance via Apple Wallet using Open Banking APIs.
  2. Ant Group expands payment ecosystem for Asian e-wallets through Alipay+ Program, enabling seamless mobile payments.
  3. Nova Credit partners with HSBC UK to offer credit card for immigrants, leveraging international credit history for new customers.

Issue #78: X Gets Licenses in Multiple U.S. States, Open Banking Payments Are On The Up And A Partnership Between Hallmark And Venmo Brings New Meaning to 'Embedded Finance'

6 implied HN points • 04 Sep 23
💼 Business Fintech Payments Financial regulation Venture Capital
  1. Elon Musk's X obtaining licenses in multiple U.S. states to process payments, entering into the fintech space.
  2. UK experiencing a surge in open banking payments, with significant growth in single domestic payments.
  3. Hallmark and Venmo partnering to allow sending money in physical greeting cards, showcasing embedded finance innovation.

Issue #99: Entrust Wants To Buy Onfido, MEPs Move To Make Euro Transactions Arrive In 10 Seconds, And JPMorgan Plans To Open 500 Branches

2 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech Banking Investment Regulation Startups
  1. The acquisition of Onfido by Entrust indicates the evolving landscape of KYC beyond financial services, with the expansion of AI/ML-based verification technology to various sectors.
  2. JPMorgan's decision to open 500 new branches seems counterintuitive in a digital age; however, it presents a unique opportunity to invest in physical presence amidst industry trends of branch closures.
  3. MEPs implementing rules for Euro transfers to arrive within 10 seconds will likely stir industry activity to meet this requirement and may impact how charges are structured for instant transactions.

Issue #79: Visa Gets In On Stablecoin Summer, Monzo Takes On Scam Callers, And ThetaRay Secures $57M To Fight Money Laundering

4 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23
💰 Finance Fintech AI Compliance Investment Payments
  1. Visa expands stablecoin settlement capabilities by partnering with merchant acquirers, facilitating instant payment authorizations.
  2. Temenos introduces a generative AI tool to automatically classify customer banking transactions, potentially revolutionizing banking processes.
  3. ThetaRay raises $57M for AI tools to fight money laundering, showcasing the increasing importance of compliance-focused startups in fintech.