Mastercard Start Path has announced the latest group of companies selected to join its startup engagement programme. Among them is amnis, a Zurich-based fintech, chosen alongside other firms from around the world. The companies were chosen through a global selection process for their expertise in areas such as card processing infrastructure, AI-driven credit access, treasury management and digital commerce. Their innovations reflect ongoing developments in the fintech sector and Mastercard’s work with scalable solutions that use emerging technologies. In line with Mastercard’s focus on supporting environmentally conscious practices, this cohort also includes startups developing technologies aimed at advancing circular commerce and promoting sustainable consumption and lifecycle management of goods. Meet the Emerging Fintechs:   AraxaTech connects issuers and processors through seamless integrations and zero-downtime migrations.     Hyperlayer helps banks and businesses leapfrog competitors with programmable financial products delivered in weeks, not years.     Kamina is an AI-enabled platform that helps financial institutions prevent delinquency, reward healthy behavior, and expand responsible credit access.     firmly is an agentic commerce platform that allows customers to purchase at a point of inspiration, powering seamless commerce experiences across every digital touchpoint without the need for complex integrations.     amnis empowers mid-sized companies to streamline cross-border banking and financial operations seamlessly in a single platform.     Qawn is a chat-based banking solution that facilitates value exchanges across the Middle East.     MoovnPay is redefining the way people move, pay and shop online through a seamless ecosystem of platforms, powered by Moovn Technologies.     Save Your Wardrobe is a customisable tech infrastructure that empowers companies to design, test and scale after-sale services beyond transactions.     Pentatonic is the AI-native, drop-in solution for brands and retailers to own their secondhand market by automating product buybacks and routing them to resale, repair, or recycling: creating a loyalty flywheel and waste-free product lifecycles.     Circulae helps millions of people regain purchasing power, reduce waste and consume more responsibly by integrating an automated “resale” service into payment methods.     Circulayo is transforming reusable packaging systems through financial touchpoints, with instant deposits, refunds, rewards and environmental impact measurements.   Featured image credit: Mastercard The post Mastercard Start Path Selects 11 Startups for New Cohort appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Deutsche Bank has conducted its first euro-denominated cross-border payment using Partior’s blockchain platform. The transaction was carried out in collaboration with DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets, with Deutsche Bank acting as the settlement bank and DBS as the beneficiary bank. Deutsche Bank invested in Partior in 2024 and finalised a platform agreement in May 2025 to provide real-time, secure, and scalable settlement. This live transaction marks a key step in the development of Deutsche Bank’s cross-border payment solutions for financial institution (FI) clients. Deutsche Bank and DBS, a founding shareholder of Partior, worked to ensure the blockchain network was interoperable with traditional payment rails, allowing the transaction to be executed across different financial market infrastructures. Ciaran Byrne, Head of Product Management Institutional Cash Management at Deutsche Bank, commented: Ciaran Byrne “We envisage a future using multiple rails, be it SWIFT, stablecoins, or blockchain-based solutions, where intelligent and negotiated routing produces maximum value in terms of processing efficiency, cost and client experience. Blockchain is clearly gaining traction in the industry and will form an integral component of how we service our FI clients. Through our partnership with Partior, we will offer clients a whole new experience in terms of real-time execution.” Humphrey Valenbreder, Partior’s CEO, added: Humphrey Valenbreder “In a very short timeframe, we have demonstrated that our new rails create real, live business opportunities for our partners and their clients. By enabling real-time settlement alongside messaging, with the security and finality required by global systemically important banks, we are creating new possibilities for cross-border value transfer.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Deutsche Bank Conducts First Euro Cross-Border Payment via Partior Blockchain appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

aosphere, a London-based provider of online legal and compliance analysis with more than 1,300 institutional clients, has announced the acquisition of Investment Navigator, a Zurich-based fintech specialising in the digitalisation of cross-border compliance. Founded in 2014, Investment Navigator has established itself as a utility provider for banks in managing cross-border compliance and investment processes. Its digital services include the digitalisation of cross-border banking manuals and a workflow tool designed to support internal and cross-organisational collaboration on regulatory matters. Its investment product eligibility platform integrates compliance checks and selling restrictions into investment management workflows, both before and after trade execution. aosphere said the move will enhance its existing digital capabilities at a time of significant change for the financial sector. The combined platform is expected to support the development of new technology-led compliance tools for private and retail banks, wealth managers, investment banks, and asset managers. Alberto Rama, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Investment Navigator, said: Alberto Rama “As part of aosphere, we have the possibility to stay ahead of the curve in regulatory technology by further accelerating our product development and leveraging market reach. Everyone at Investment Navigator is looking forward to this next chapter, seizing new opportunities and working together with the expert teams across the aosphere group.” Marc-Henri Chamay, Chief Executive of aosphere, said: Marc-Henri Chamay “The DNA of Investment Navigator is fully aligned with the core values of aosphere. This is the perfect starting point to accelerate the digitisation of regulatory obligations and bring innovative new solutions to the market.”   Featured image credit: Investment Navigator The post aosphere Acquires Investment Navigator to Expand Digital Compliance Solutions appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Meta has announced the expansion of access to its Llama AI models for key US allies, supporting defence and national security initiatives. Llama, an open-source platform, allows governments to securely deploy and fine-tune models using sensitive data without relying on third-party AI providers. “Llama is particularly well-suited to these sensitive use cases because, as an open source platform, it can be securely downloaded and deployed without the need to transfer sensitive data through third-party AI providers,” Meta said. Since last year, Llama has been available to US government agencies and the Five Eyes partners, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, and their private sector collaborators. The expansion now includes France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and South Korea, as well as NATO and European Union institutions. Meta noted that Llama has been used to enhance decision-making, mission-specific capabilities, and operational efficiency in US military and national security contexts. For instance, the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command is piloting the use of AI with augmented and virtual reality technologies to accelerate routine equipment repairs. To support allied deployment, Meta is working with partners including Accenture, Amazon Web Services, AMD, Anduril, Booz Allen, C3 AI, Google Cloud, IBM, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Oracle, Palantir, and others. The company is also developing wearable augmented and virtual reality technologies with Anduril to improve perception and decision-making for US soldiers. Meta emphasised the importance of responsible AI use in defence. “It is the responsibility of countries leveraging AI for national security to deploy AI ethically, responsibly, and in accordance with relevant international law and fundamental principles,” the company said, referencing the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. Meta plans a step-by-step approach to extending Llama access and will consider further countries in consultation with the US government.   Featured image credit: Meta The post Meta Expands Llama AI Access for US Allies appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Boerse Stuttgart Digital, part of Boerse Stuttgart Group and a provider of crypto infrastructure for financial institutions, has announced its official launch in Spain. The move forms part of its wider European expansion strategy, with offices now in Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Milan, Stockholm, Zurich, and Madrid. The development follows a year of growth and the granting of the first Europe-wide MiCAR license by BaFin in Germany. The company will now enable financial institutions in Spain to offer their retail clients access to cryptocurrencies under MiCAR-compliant standards. Its services include trading and custody solutions aimed at banks, brokers, and asset managers. Institutional demand for crypto in Spain has been rising, with market studies projecting a more than 50 per cent adoption rate in the country by 2025. Dr Matthias Voelkel “Our infrastructure is fully regulated, trusted, and institutional-grade. Spain with its high performing, innovative banks is a core market for us, and we are already engaged in advanced collaboration discussions with key players,” said Dr Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Group.       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by bearfotos via Freepik The post Boerse Stuttgart Digital Expands into Spain with New Madrid Office appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Scila, a Sweden-based provider of market surveillance solutions, has announced the integration of Germany-based Stockpulse’s social media monitoring services into Deutsche Börse’s Scila Surveillance system. The installation, which has been in operation for more than a decade, continues to evolve in line with market demands. Stockpulse specialises in quantitative social media data processing using AI. With this implementation, Deutsche Börse has become the first major exchange to adopt the integrated solution for trading surveillance across its cash and derivatives markets. The system is intended to improve the efficiency of surveillance operations by incorporating social media data into existing workflows. The joint solution enables exchanges and financial regulators to include near real-time social media analysis in their surveillance activities, with the aim of strengthening the detection and prevention of market manipulation and fraudulent behaviour linked to online activity. The implementation in Germany provides Deutsche Börse’s surveillance team with access to global data streams covering more than 70,000 equities and thousands of cryptocurrencies, as well as news feeds, activity metrics, and sentiment analysis updated periodically. This additional intelligence is designed to support more informed decision-making and quicker responses to potential cases of market abuse. Commenting on the development, Mikko Andersson, Chief Executive of Scila, said: Mikko Andersson “By combining leading market data analysis with social media intelligence, we’re providing our clients with a more complete view of market dynamics and potential risks. This holistic approach is essential in today’s interconnected financial ecosystem where information spreads instantaneously across multiple channels.” Dr Stefan Nann, Chief Executive of Stockpulse, added: Dr Stefan Nann “Our advanced algorithms and AI applications analyse millions of social media posts and news articles in near real-time, providing actionable intelligence that helps surveillance teams identify unusual patterns and potential market manipulation before it impacts market integrity.” Deutsche Börse, one of the world’s largest exchange organisations, has recently introduced the system into its surveillance processes. The solution combines news and social media monitoring, sentiment and activity analysis, integration with existing surveillance systems, and the capacity to generate alerts for unusual developments. It is being made available to current and future Scila Surveillance clients, with options for adaptation to different regulatory requirements.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Deutsche Börse Adds Social Media Monitoring to Scila Surveillance appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Hidora, a sovereign cloud provider based in Switzerland, has introduced Hikube, a new cloud platform designed to strengthen service continuity and digital sovereignty. Hikube is the first Swiss cloud service to provide automatic data replication across three data centres in Geneva, Gland and Lucerne. This multi-zone architecture is intended to maintain operations even in the event of a major data centre failure. The platform is aimed at organisations with strict requirements for data protection, compliance, business continuity and technological independence, including those in finance, healthcare and industry. Matthieu Robin, CEO of Hidora, said: Matthieu Robin “We’re democratising enterprise-grade high availability for Swiss companies while guaranteeing their data never leaves the territory. This is a crucial economic and technological sovereignty issue for our country, especially in today’s geopolitical and regulatory climate.” Hikube incorporates NVIDIA GPU capability for workloads such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced rendering, alongside managed Kubernetes. Users can provision and manage servers and databases within existing DevOps processes and CI/CD pipelines, with options for encryption at rest across block volumes, object storage and other services. According to Hidora, demand for sovereign cloud services in Europe is rising, with the market expanding at about 35 per cent annually, largely driven by enterprise security and compliance needs. Hikube’s data centres operate fully on renewable energy and hold sustainability certifications from EcoEnterprise and Responsability Europe. The platform also complies with ISO 27001 and PCI DSS standards, supporting organisations that need enterprise-grade security and regulatory assurance.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Hidora Launches Switzerland’s First Multi-Zone Sovereign Cloud Platform appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

A new study by global technology analysts Juniper Research has projected that B2B payments will exceed US$224 trillion in transaction value worldwide by 2030, up from US$186 trillion in 2025. This 20% increase is expected to be driven by economic growth in emerging markets, as business activity and trade diversify. The research identified virtual cards as the fastest-growing B2B payment channel over the next five years, with a projected 370% increase in transaction value. The report highlighted the configurability of virtual cards and their integration within procurement processes as key factors in their rapid growth. Michael Greenwood “Unlocking card acceptance in emerging markets is the linchpin for the next wave of B2B card transaction growth. Supplier acceptance remains a major hurdle, but deploying low-cost acceptance solutions across key supply chain networks will accelerate adoption. This strategy positions virtual cards to ride the strong growth trajectory of emerging markets,” explained Michael Greenwood, Senior Research Analyst at Juniper Research. Juniper Research’s recent B2B Payments Competitor Leaderboard assessed 19 major B2B payments providers against criteria such as size of operations, commercial proposition, and the comprehensiveness of payments capabilities. The top five vendors for 2025 are: Visa American Express Mastercard Discover FIS Source: Juniper Research The study found that leading providers are focusing on expanding their virtual card offerings, enhancing card portfolios with new use cases and controls. “To differentiate, specialists must offer tools that tackle the many inefficiencies within B2B payments. B2B payments systems must reduce complexity, not increase it, or vendors will lose out to faster-moving rivals,” Greenwood added. Juniper Research’s new market research suite provides an extensive assessment of the B2B payments market, including analysis and forecasts based on over 61,000 data points across 61 countries over five years. It features a Competitor Leaderboard and an evaluation of future market opportunities. Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by starline via Freepik The post B2B Payments to Reach $224 Trillion by 2030, Virtual Cards Lead Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Stable has secured backing from PayPal Ventures as the payments giant moves to broaden the reach of its US dollar-pegged stablecoin. The investment will bring PayPal USD (PYUSD) onto Stable’s blockchain network for permissionless use, allowing users to conduct commerce and financial transactions directly on the Stablechain. PYUSD is issued by PayPal and pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. Stable said the integration will use LayerZero’s recent integration to bridge blockchains programmatically, targeting near-instant finality and a reduced fee structure for commerce-related uses. Stable will also explore cross-chain compatibility and on-/off-ramps for PYUSD, and Stable and PayPal have agreed to look into potential payments and stablecoin-utility products in the coming months. Since emerging from stealth, Stable closed a US$28 million seed round with investors including Bitfinex and Hack VC. It also announced four executive hires, including Brian Mehler as co-CEO and Sam Kazemian as CTO. Sam Kazemian “Our teams are aligned on the clear benefits that digital asset implementation can bring for consumers, making them a perfect fit to help us bring about the next true advancement in cross-border transactions. We are incredibly excited to begin working alongside their experienced team and drive this innovative vision and cannot wait to see what we build together.” said Sam Kazemian, the recently announced CTO of Stable. David Weber “This work with Stable reflects our commitment to expanding PYUSD’s utility across multiple blockchain ecosystems and driving adoption. Stable’s focus on fast, seamless financial transactions using stablecoins removes traditional friction points for users. Together, we will unlock new commerce-related use cases for PYUSD, furthering adoption of stablecoins within the greater financial ecosystem.” said David Weber, Head of PYUSD Ecosystem, PayPal. PayPal Ventures also highlighted Stable’s strategy of working with trusted partners to reach emerging markets, calling it an opportunity to drive real-world adoption of stablecoins and develop new use cases at scale.     Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by feepikcontributorthailand via Freepik The post PayPal Ventures Invests in Stable to Expand Reach of PayPal USD Stablecoin appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Swiss software company Abacus, which provides business management solutions for companies across various industries, has integrated bLink into its Business Software. The integration enables a direct and secure connection to participating financial institutions, allowing companies to use a single platform agreement and standardised interface instead of multiple bilateral connections or contracts with individual banks. Through the bLink integration, users can access account and transaction information and initiate payments directly from the Abacus Business Software. This reduces the need for manual entry of banking data and simplifies payment reconciliation. Raffaelle Grillo “The bLink connection provides a secure, uniform, and future-proof foundation for electronic data exchange with banks,” said Raffaelle Grillo, Chief Operating Officer of Abacus Research AG. “Through standardisation via the platform, various bank connections, transaction information, and payments can be integrated more efficiently into the Abacus Business Software.” The bLink interface will be available from September 15 in the current Abacus 2025 version.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by user850788 via Freepik The post Abacus Integrates bLink for Streamlined Bank Connections appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Tide, the UK-based business management platform, has announced a strategic investment from TPG, the global alternative asset management firm. The investment, comprising primary and secondary funding of more than US$120 million, raises Tide’s valuation to US$1.5 billion. Existing investor Apax Digital Funds also took part in the round. The funding, led by TPG through The Rise Funds, will support Tide’s international expansion, product development, and adoption of agentic AI. The Rise Funds, TPG’s impact investing strategy, has previously invested in over 85 companies. Oliver Prill, CEO of Tide, said: Oliver Prill “This funding will accelerate our international expansion, building on our highly successful and profitable UK business, where we support nearly 800,000 members with 14% of the SMB market. In India, we’ve seen rapid growth and now support over 800,000 Tide members. “We’ve also launched in Germany, a large market with nearly 6 million SMEs, and very recently launched our affordable credit solutions as our first proposition in France. Over time, we’ll bring the full richness of Tide’s UK platform to each of our international markets. “This investment will also fuel product innovation and means we can broaden and deepen our offering, helping our members everywhere save time and money. Tide is already adopting AI at pace, and the investment will allow us to accelerate this.” Yemi Lalude, Partner at TPG and Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa for The Rise Funds, said: Yemi Lalude “Tide has built an industry-leading platform that empowers sole traders, micro-enterprises, and small firms across the UK, India, and Germany with tailored products. We are excited to support Tide’s mission to democratise access to financial and administrative services for SMEs, helping them thrive from inception through to growth.” As part of the deal, Lalude will join Tide’s board. Tide currently serves 1.6 million members in the UK, India, Germany, and France. Its platform provides services including business registration, accounting tools, payroll, business accounts, credit solutions, payments, and sales tools.   Featured image credit: Tide The post Tide Raises $120M from TPG, Valuation Hits $1.5B appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

FTX Trading and the FTX Recovery Trust have announced that, in accordance with FTX’s Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganisation, distributions will commence to holders of allowed claims in the Plan’s Convenience and Non-Convenience Classes who have completed the pre-distribution requirements on September 30. Eligible creditors can expect to receive funds from their selected distribution service provider, either BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer, within one to three business days from 30 September 2025. Dates for subsequent record and payment cycles will be communicated in due course. In the Third Distribution, in line with the waterfall priorities set out in the Plan, Allowed Class 5A Dotcom Customer Entitlement Claims will receive an additional 6% distribution, representing a cumulative distribution of 78% to date. Allowed Class 5B U.S. Customer Entitlement Claims will receive a 40% distribution, bringing the cumulative total to 95%. Allowed Classes 6A General Unsecured Claims and 6B Digital Asset Loan Claims will each receive a 24% distribution, amounting to 85% cumulatively. Allowed Class 7 Convenience Claims will receive a 120% distribution. By onboarding with a Distribution Service Provider, claim holders have irrevocably elected to forgo their right to receive cash distributions directly from FTX, directing instead that FTX pay any distributions due under the Plan to the chosen provider. For queries regarding the availability of funds with a selected Distribution Service Provider, claim holders should contact customer support at their provider directly. To remain eligible for distributions on future dates, customers and other creditors must complete the following before the relevant distribution record date: log in to the FTX Customer Portal where applicable, complete the required Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, submit any necessary tax forms, and onboard with either BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer, with instructions provided via the FTX Customer Portal. For transferred claims, distributions will be made only to the transferee holder of an allowed claim, provided it has been processed and recorded on the official register maintained by the Notice and Claims Agent. The 21-day notice period must have elapsed without objection for the distribution to proceed.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post FTX to Begin Third Distribution to Eligible Claim Holders appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Swiss financial institution Bivial AG has introduced instant Swiss Franc (CHF) payments through the SIC Instant Payments (SIC IP) clearing system. As an early adopter of the national infrastructure, Bivial now allows clients to send and receive CHF payments in real time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Clients can process payments of up to CHF 20,000 in under 10 seconds, including during weekends and public holidays. The rollout complements Bivial’s existing global payments capabilities, which include Swiss IBAN accounts in more than 19 currencies and the ability to make payments to over 160 countries. Clients can also fund accounts, cards, and wallets via alternative payment methods and locally preferred payment rails, now with the added option of real-time CHF transfers. Martynas Bieliauskas “This is a great step forward in delivering real-time financial services in Bivial’s home market, Switzerland,” said Martynas Bieliauskas, CEO of Bivial. “By combining instant CHF payments with our existing global infrastructure, we are giving businesses a single platform to manage liquidity, make faster payouts, and improve their overall cash flow.” Bivial’s launch aligns with Switzerland’s move towards a modern, real-time payments ecosystem, providing full connectivity with other SIC IP participants while maintaining global coverage across currencies and payment methods.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Claudio Schwarz via Unsplash The post Bivial Launches Real-Time 24/7 CHF Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Thredd, a London-based payments processor, has expanded its partnership with Reap, a Hong Kong-based fintech offering stablecoin-enabled card programmes, white-label stablecoin card issuance, and a cross-border payments platform with fiat payouts. Under the expanded agreement, Thredd will provide the infrastructure supporting Reap’s physical and virtual card programmes, facilitating the company’s expansion into the US and Latin America. As Reap grows its stablecoin-enabled services, Thredd will support authorisation, transaction processing, fraud controls, tokenisation, and digital wallet integration. Since the partnership began in 2021, Thredd has enabled Reap to scale from processing thousands of card transactions monthly to millions. With Thredd’s solution and support teams, Reap now handles high transactions per second (TPS) volumes, integrates stablecoin-based repayment, and operates with round-the-clock technical and account support, assisting clients in launching programmes efficiently. Jim McCarthy “This collaboration enables Reap to focus on product innovation while Thredd underpins their expansion, enabling corporate, B2B, and B2B2C clients, particularly in fast-evolving markets, to issue cards swiftly and securely,” said Jim McCarthy, CEO of Thredd. “From initial design to tokenisation and fraud protection, our infrastructure is built to handle ambitious growth and complex needs.” Daren Guo “We are pleased to be partnering with Thredd to enable us to bring stablecoin-enabled infrastructure to our clients across major trade corridors for more efficient money movement,” said Daren Guo, Co-Founder of Reap. “Following our strong business growth, we are focused on scaling our infrastructure so clients can better connect and streamline their financial operations with our integrated business accounts and embedded finance solutions.” The partnership illustrates how modular payment infrastructure, combined with technical expertise, can help fintechs scale operations across borders and transform card programmes into broader financial infrastructure.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post Thredd Expands Partnership with Reap for Stablecoin Cards appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has listed its shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange, marking a notable development in Europe’s initial public offering activity this year. The shares opened at CHF 48.25 each, giving the company a market capitalisation of approximately CHF 4.7 billion. Founded in 2021 as a joint venture between TX Group, Ringier, Mobiliar and General Atlantic, SMG Swiss Marketplace Group has established a prominent presence in Switzerland through platforms including Homegate, ImmoScout24, AutoScout24, Ricardo, tutti.ch and FinanceScout24. The IPO represents a significant step in the company’s growth and provides a foundation for future initiatives and an enhanced market position. The company’s issued and outstanding share capital consists of 98,145,200 registered shares, of which 19,629,040 existing shares were offered in the IPO. The issue price was CHF 46.00 per share, resulting in a placement volume of around CHF 903 million, excluding the over-allotment option of 2,944,353 shares. The listing is expected to provide SMG Swiss Marketplace Group with greater financial flexibility, increased brand visibility and additional liquidity options for shareholders. The company will be included in the Swiss Performance Index family from September 22. Christoph Tonini, CEO of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, said: Christoph Tonini “We have been building on the Swiss digital economy and driving our customers’ success through our digital products and services, innovation and dedication from the start. We are proud to be listed on SIX and look forward to the opportunities ahead as a public company.” Tomas Kindler, Global Head Exchanges at SIX, commented: Tomas Kindler “As Switzerland’s most popular online marketplace operator, SMG underscores the strength of Switzerland’s digital economy and the attractive growth opportunities the country provides for ambitious companies. On behalf of SIX, we congratulate SMG on this important milestone and wish them continued success as a publicly listed company.”   Featured image credit: SIX The post SMG Swiss Marketplace Group IPO Hits SIX Swiss Exchange appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Google and PayPal have announced a multiyear strategic partnership to advance digital commerce solutions. The collaboration will focus on improving how businesses and consumers transact across platforms and devices, combining the companies’ expertise to enhance the efficiency and security of online payments. Sundar Pichai “PayPal is a leader in digital commerce, and we’re excited to expand our work together to make online transactions simpler and more secure,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. “Through this partnership, PayPal will use our industry-leading AI to enhance services and security, and we will more deeply integrate PayPal’s payment capabilities across Google products and platforms.” Alex Chriss, President and CEO of PayPal, added: Alex Chriss “Together with Google, we are leading the way for digital commerce, ensuring greater opportunities for merchants and users worldwide. We are bringing PayPal’s products and services to billions of Google users and redefining what’s possible at global scale.” The partnership will develop AI-driven shopping experiences and establish standards for agentic commerce. This includes combining PayPal’s global payment infrastructure, personalisation tools, and identity solutions with Google’s AI capabilities. Both companies are promoting best practices such as Google’s Agent Payments Protocol, a secure and scalable framework for agentic commerce. PayPal’s solutions, including PayPal-branded checkout, Hyperwallet, and PayPal Payouts, will be integrated across Google products to support seamless payment experiences. Additionally, PayPal Enterprise Payments will process card payments on platforms such as Google Cloud, Google Ads, and Google Play, further embedding PayPal as a key payment provider. The partnership also extends to Google Cloud, where PayPal will work to modernise its technology infrastructure and applications to support its next-generation commerce and payments platform. These developments aim to provide tools for consumers, merchants, and developers to engage in digital commerce while creating a foundation for ongoing collaboration and industry standards.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Marques Thomas via Unsplash The post Google and PayPal Forge Partnership to Improve Digital Commerce appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Ebury, a London-based fintech specialising in cross-border financial services, has entered into a strategic alliance with IQ-EQ, a Luxembourg-headquartered provider of investor and corporate services. The collaboration aims to broaden access to treasury and foreign exchange solutions for fund managers, institutional investors, and corporates operating across multiple jurisdictions. As cross-border business activity continues to grow, challenges such as accessing transactional accounts, managing liquidity, mitigating FX exposure, and handling international payments have become increasingly complex. The Ebury-IQ-EQ partnership seeks to address these issues by integrating Ebury’s platform into IQ-EQ’s service offering. Through this integration, clients will be able to access transaction accounts in more than 20 jurisdictions, make international payments in over 130 currencies, and use tailored FX risk management strategies to manage market volatility. They will also gain access to cash management tools designed for complex fund and corporate structures, supported by local expertise across multiple jurisdictions. Aaron Bird, Head of Enterprise & Institutional Solutions APAC at Ebury, said: Aaron Bird “IQ-EQ’s global footprint and deep expertise in investor services makes them an ideal partner. Together, we’re offering a future-ready solution for international funds and corporates looking to streamline operations and reduce FX risk.” Joanne McEnteggart, Global Head of Debt, Capital Markets and Corporate at IQ-EQ, added: Joanne McEnteggart “We’re always looking for ways to further enhance our service to clients and our collaboration with Ebury brings together their expertise in international payments, FX risk management and cash flow solutions with our unrivalled experience servicing complex fund and corporate structures.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by lovely12 via Freepik The post Ebury and IQ-EQ Partner to Enhance Cross-Border Financial Services appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Telegram is an underutilized but powerful marketing channel for fintech and financial apps. With its scale, engaged user base and innovative features, including Telegram Ads, mini apps, and built-in payments, the platform offers strong opportunities for fintech companies to reach, engage, and convert audiences, according to a report by Magnetto, a Telegram ads agency. Telegram is a cloud-based, cross-platform social media and instant messaging service. It allows users to send messages, share media and files, and hold private and group voice or video calls as well as public livestreams. Beyond messaging, Telegram also includes social networking features, allowing users to post stories, create public groups of up to 200,000 members, or broadcast updates to unlimited audiences via channels. Telegram is the world’s third most popular messenger app in the world, with over 27 million downloads in January 2025. It claims more than 1 billion monthly users, nearly 450 million daily active users, and says it adds about 2.5 million new users each day. This scale gives brands a major opportunity to expand globally, build communities, and stay top of mind with highly engaged users. A leading channel for crypto users Unless mass media platform like Meta or Google Ads, Telegram excels at fostering tight-knit, highly engaged communities. This makes sectors including crypto, niche e-commerce brands, and gaming good fits, because their audiences are already plugged in and actually want to be sold to. In fact, crypto represents the biggest community on Telegram. Nearly one-third of Telegram users have experience with cryptocurrencies, according to the Magnetto study. Within this group, 16% are seasoned crypto users. Furthermore, the most-subscribed Telegram channels currently are crypto-related. The largest channel is Blum, a crypto ecosystem with more than 25 million subscribers. It’s followed by Major Community, with 19 million subscribers, and Tapswap Community, with 17 million subscribers. Most subscribed Telegram channels 2025, Source: Telegram Marketing 2025: Global Statistics and Trends, Magnetto, 2025 Telegram channels work like a public broadcast tool, where brands share updates, exclusive offers, and content. Subscribers receive each message directly, a model which drive strong engagement. Telegram users generate over 1 trillion views in channels every month, and posts see an average open rate of 55-60%, which is higher than on most social platforms, the report says. Telegram Ads for tech savvy audiences and communities Another key functionality is Telegram Ads. Telegram Ads allow sponsored messages to appear in public and private channels and bots. It gives users access to three prime placements: inside public or private channels, within bots, and in Telegram Search results. Brands can target specific audiences with precision, even by placing ads in their competitors’ channels. To qualify, a channel must have over 1,000 followers, and a bot must have more than 1,000 monthly active users. Telegram Ads work best for online brands that appeal to a tech savvy audience, such as crypto projects, trading platforms, tech tools, and anything in the fintech space. Products with a strong community angle also tend to do well, especially if they speak to a clear niche. Mini apps as a game-changer for fintech Mini apps are another powerful tool for brands. Telegram’s mini apps let businesses build experiences inside Telegram without requiring downloads or app-switching. They’re especially attractive in sectors where speed, access, and cost-efficiency matter more than deep app functionality, like fintech. Key benefits of mini apps include a massive reach of over 500 million monthly users already interacting with mini apps, frictionless onboarding with instant access and no app store approval, versatile use cases from e-commerce and booking systems to crypto wallets and portfolio wallets, and built-in payments using cryptocurrencies or traditional methods. Mini apps are particularly taking off in emerging regions like Eastern Europe, India, and Latin America, where Telegram is already part of daily life. In crypto specifically, mini apps already enable users to manage wallets, trade tokens, stake assets, and track portfolios seamlessly. Currently, crypto mini apps are the top-performing mini app category on Telegram, boasting 87 million monthly active users. Non-fungible token (NFT) mini apps rank fourth with 13 million monthly active users, while finance mini apps rank 13th with 3 million unique monthly active users. Top performing Telegram mini app categories by monthly active users, Source: Telegram Marketing 2025: Global Statistics and Trends, Magnetto, 2025 Influencer marketing: underused but promising Telegram’s influencer marketing, on the other hand, remains largely in its early stages, but its potential is significant, especially in high-value categories like finance, emerging tech, and wellness, the report says. As more tools emerge to measure these campaigns, this space will get more structured. But for now, it is largely an overlooked levers in performance marketing, it says. Telegram influencers often build authentic, trust-based connections with their audiences within focused, niche communities. Brands tapping into these relationships don’t have to start from zero, benefiting instead from the credibility influencers have already established. That kind of credibility matters: studies show that nearly 70% of people are more likely to act on recommendations from influencers, friends, or family than on messages from brands themselves, according to Magnetto. Another major advantage of Telegram influencer marketing is access to the platform’s 15 million active Premium users, who don’t see Telegram Ads and are otherwise difficult to reach. This audience is more engaged, quicker to convert, and far more likely to stay loyal over time, Magnetto says. A professional, tech-savvy audience According to the study, Telegram mostly draws a professional, tech-savvy audience. Around 21% of the app’s users are employed in IT and Internet-related fields, 12% are in marketing and public relations, and 4% work in finance. This makes Telegram especially appealing for promoting tech solutions, (SaaS) products, or business-to-business (B2B) services, allowing brands to directly reach audiences who are more likely to respond, convert, and remain loyal. Top 15 professions of Telegram users, Source: Telegram Marketing 2025: Global Statistics and Trends, Magnetto, 2025 Telegram also reaches people at different levels of decision-making. 44% of users are in non-managerial roles, making it a strong channel for reaching hands-on professionals and everyday decision influencers. These are the people who research tools, try new products, and recommend them to their teams or friends. 13% of Telegram users are in managerial positions with purchasing power or play a role in business decisions, which makes them a key audience for B2B, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and service-based brands. Meanwhile, 5.5% of users are business owners. These are proactive, entrepreneurial, and always looking for ways to grow. Employment status and positions, Source: Telegram Marketing 2025: Global Statistics and Trends, Magnetto, 2025 Over the past years, messaging apps have emerged as powerful communication channels for companies, which are utilizing SMS, WhatsApps, and other popular platforms to engage customers, promote services, and enhance user experience. WhatsApp, for example, offers a dedicated app for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to communicate with customers. Dubbed WhatsApp Business, it allows companies to automate messages, organize chats, and provide efficient customer support. Most recently, Meta overhauled WhatsApp Business’ pricing model, moving away from its old per-conversation pricing model and to a per-message system with volume-based discounts and free utility messages within a 24-hour window. These changes aim to position WhatsApp as a more attractive alternative to SMS for businesses, and encourage two-way conversation. Experts predict that this will increase the volume of messages, which will eventually drive greater adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) agents used to automate customer interactions across WhatsApp, manage sales flows, and streamline support.   Featured image by user3980505 on Freepik The post Telegram Emerges as a Powerful Marketing Channel for Fintech Brands appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Crédit Agricole next bank, the Swiss subsidiary of the French banking group, has partnered with additiv, a provider of a Digital Financial Services Platform, to introduce “Pilla,” a fully digital pension service. Pilla targets Switzerland’s 3a and vested benefits market, offering a mobile-first experience. The service digitises the entire customer journey, including onboarding, risk profiling, and investment allocation, while complying with Swiss pension regulations. It is intended for clients seeking a simple and streamlined approach to managing their pension savings. Central to the service is additiv’s orchestration capability, which integrates with Liberty Pension, a regulated foundation and asset manager. This illustrates additiv’s open sourcing model, which allows banks to incorporate both their own and third-party regulated products into a single, coordinated process without extensive system changes. Pierre Fortis “Pilla marks a strategic step for Crédit Agricole next bank as we launch a modern, mobile-first pension product for a more digital-oriented, independent target group,” said Pierre Fortis, Development Director. “additiv’s platform enabled us to launch fast, with full regulatory alignment and a fully digital customer journey.” Pilla is designed for mobile-first users in Switzerland and also accommodates the bank’s cross-border clients living in France, Germany or Italy while working in Switzerland. It allows these clients to manage, contribute to, and monitor their 3a and vested benefits accounts entirely via the app, removing the need for branch visits. The partnership demonstrates additiv’s capabilities in digital pensions and investment solutions. Its cloud-native, API-first platform allows financial institutions to design, launch, and scale pension services quickly, integrating regulated offerings while maintaining compliance. Michael Stemmle “Pilla isn’t just a product launch, it’s a strategic leap for Crédit Agricole next bank, enabling them to offer a fully digital, mobile-first pension experience that improves access, advice, and efficiency for their customers,” said Michael Stemmle, Founder of additiv. “Through our open sourcing approach, we’ve enabled Crédit Agricole next bank to orchestrate regulated third-party pension solutions seamlessly into a mobile-first journey. It proves that our platform can set the standard for end-to-end digital pensions, fully compliant, scalable, and ready to consume new solutions as they evolve.”   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post Crédit Agricole next bank Unveils Fully Digital Swiss Pension Service appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Light Frame, a Lausanne-based provider of wealth management core systems, has appointed Philipp Rickenbacher to its Advisory Board. Rickenbacher was CEO of Julius Baer Group and Bank Julius Baer from 2019 to 2024, leading the institution through a period of significant transformation and external disruption. Since joining Julius Baer in 2004, he held various positions across Structured Products, Global Advisory Solutions, and Intermediaries & Custody. He began his career at McKinsey & Company in Zurich and London. He holds a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from ETH Zurich and has completed programmes at Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme and Singularity University. He is currently Chairman of the Zug-based venture capital firm CVVC and serves on several boards and advisory bodies in finance and technology. Schuyler Weiss “Technology is increasingly shaping the way private banks create and deliver value for their clients. A modern core is at the heart of this, as part of a long-term transformation strategy for established players, and as a critical stepping-stone for neobanks,” said Schuyler Weiss, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Light Frame. “Philipp has been on the front lines of that shift. His counsel will help us deliver even greater impact for banks ready to lead.” Commenting on his appointment, Rickenbacher said: Philipp Rickenbacher “I’m excited to join Light Frame’s Advisory Board. I am impressed by how the team combines business knowledge with modern technology. They are set to help financial institutions move towards modern infrastructure, and I am glad to afford them my support as they scale the company.” Light Frame provides an event-driven core system for wealth management, combining investment operations and portfolio management with a cloud-native, API-first architecture designed to integrate with existing ecosystems. The platform aims to reduce operating costs, support change, and enable real-time, compliant client service.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by topntp26 via Freepik The post Light Frame Names Ex-Julius Baer CEO Philipp Rickenbacher to Advisory Board appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.