Urs Rhyner will join Inventx’s Executive Board on 1 January 2026 as head of the Business Development & Sales division, which brings together Strategy, InventxLab, Product Portfolio Management, Marketing, Sales, and Process Management. Inventx, an IT and digitalisation partner for financial and insurance service providers in Switzerland, is aligning its organisation with industry growth and customer needs. The new division aims to link business strategy with market requirements more closely. Rhyner has been with Inventx since 2016 in roles including sales, product management, and head of the InventxLab. He previously worked on strategy projects in corporate development at Swisscom’s Enterprise Customers division, led service delivery management for the financial sector, and was part of the SAP division management team. He studied business administration and completed postgraduate studies at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Emanuele Diquattro “By consolidating our market-oriented functions, we are strengthening Inventx’s innovative capacity and customer focus. Urs Rhyner is not only a proven industry expert with extensive experience, but he has also known Inventx and its values for many years. He therefore brings the right profile to lead this key area and to consistently focus on the industry-specific needs of our customers,” said Emanuele Diquattro, CEO of Inventx.       Featured image credit: Inventx The post Urs Rhyner Appointed to Inventx Executive Board appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Deutsche Bank and Postbank are now offering clients the full functionality of the Wero digital payment app. From the start of this week, customers of both banks can send and receive money in real time across Europe and make payments at participating online merchants. Postbank clients, who have been able to transfer funds to personal contacts via Wero since November 2024, now also have access to the app’s e-commerce functionality. Dominik Hennen “Following the successful launch at Postbank, we are very pleased to offer the full range of Wero’s functions at Deutsche Bank and Postbank,” said Dominik Hennen, Head of Personal Banking at Deutsche Bank. “Wero is a decisive step towards a unified European payment landscape. We offer our clients an innovative solution that simplifies private and e-commerce payments even across national borders.” The European Payments Initiative (EPI) has operated Wero since July 2024, enabling customers to transfer money instantly without entering IBAN or BIC, with all transactions linked directly to their current accounts. The app’s functionality will continue to expand, with future plans including subscription management, payments at physical points of sale, instalment payments, merchant loyalty integration, and tools for managing shared expenses. Deutsche Bank and Postbank plan to integrate Wero into their mobile apps at a later stage.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by smth.design via Freepik The post Deutsche Bank, Postbank Launch Full Wero Payment App Functions appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

A team of investment experts with over 15 years’ experience in funding businesses has launched Aneli Capital, a €35 million fund to support early-stage startups in the Baltics, Poland, and other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The fund will focus primarily on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as well as robotics, space, photonics, and energy, with the aim of helping startups develop and attract follow-on investment. CEE startups are gaining recognition internationally, but they continue to face challenges such as limited funding and slower scaling compared with their Western counterparts. Aneli Capital intends to address these issues by providing capital alongside rapid decision-making and founder-friendly terms. Daiva Rakauskaitė “Many investors lean in when a sector becomes fashionable and step back once the hype fades. We don’t work that way. We are going to look beyond hype cycles and focus on companies that build real products, attract paying customers early, and prove their economics,” said Daiva Rakauskaitė, CFA, Partner and Fund Manager. “Our goal is to be the partner that stays for the full journey, not just the exciting part at the beginning.” Other partners include Nerijus Baliūnas, who leads business development and strategy; Jacek Blonski, responsible for deep tech, networking and negotiations; and Sabina Sinicienė, Investment Director. The team has extensive experience in the investment sector, having managed Business Angel Fund II and co-founded both the Lithuanian Venture Capital Association and the Lithuanian Business Angel Network (LitBAN). Aneli Capital plans to make around 20 investments over the next five years, with an average of €1.5 million per startup, and expects to fund eight companies next year while exiting others from previous funds. More than half of the fund will target Lithuanian startups, with the remainder supporting ventures in Latvia, Estonia, Poland and other CEE countries. The fund is partly financed by the National Lithuanian Development Bank ILTE and the fund of Warsaw-listed Magna Polonia, with plans to attract additional investors.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by DC Studio via Freepik The post Aneli Capital Launches €35M Fund to Support CEE Startups appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut has begun rolling out Revolut Mobile to waitlist users, with general access planned for January 2026. Customers who join before 30 March can access an early-bird rate of £12.50 per month. The plan offers unlimited 5G data, calls, and texts in the UK, with 20GB of roaming in Europe and the US. Revolut Mobile lets users manage their plan entirely within the Revolut app, activating it quickly while keeping their existing number or choosing a new one. Powered by Gigs, the operating system for mobile services, the service delivers coverage across the UK and abroad. The service includes features designed to support travel and personal organisation. Messaging Pass allows low-bandwidth data for messaging and certain apps in over 80 countries outside the EEA and the US. Customers can have up to three numbers on a single plan, starting from £2 extra per month, to separate work and personal use or limit exposure to merchants. VIP numbers are available for £10 per month. All plans include a NordVPN subscription for secure connections. Revolut’s loyalty programme, RevPoints, can be used to pay for or reduce the cost of a plan. Hadi Nasrallah, General Manager, Telco at Revolut, said: Hadi Nasrallah “Our goal is simple: offer the best service, at the best price, leveraging the best user experience. We’re bringing true innovation with features such as multiple numbers & global messaging, while removing any hassle or hidden fees from the process.” Hermann Frank, CEO and co-founder at Gigs, added: Hermann Frank “Revolut Mobile represents the breakthrough we envisioned when founding Gigs: the world’s most advanced phone plan, available at a tap and powered by our global connectivity platform. This launch demonstrates the versatility of our operating system and marks a turning point in the UK telecom market.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Revolut Launches Mobile Service for UK Customers appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Visa has launched USDC settlement in the US, advancing its stablecoin settlement pilot program and efforts to modernise its settlement infrastructure. US issuer and acquirer partners can now settle with Visa using Circle’s USDC, a fully reserved, dollar-backed stablecoin. USDC settlement allows issuers to move funds faster over blockchains, access seven-day availability, and maintain operational resilience during weekends and holidays, without affecting the consumer card experience. Initial participants include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which have begun settling with Visa in USDC over the Solana blockchain. Wider availability in the US is expected in 2026. Visa is also a design partner for Arc, a new Layer 1 blockchain from Circle currently in public testnet. Arc is intended to provide the performance and scalability needed to support Visa’s on-chain commercial activity. Visa plans to use Arc for USDC settlement within its network and operate a validator node when the blockchain goes live. Rubail Birwadker “Financial institutions are looking for faster, programmable settlement options that integrate seamlessly with their existing treasury operations,” s aid Rubail Birwadker, Global Head of Growth Products and Strategic Partnerships at Visa. “By bringing USDC settlement to the US, Visa is delivering a reliable, bank-ready capability that improves treasury efficiency while maintaining security, compliance, and resiliency standards.” Visa’s US stablecoin settlement framework offers seven-day settlement windows, modernized liquidity and treasury management, and interoperability between traditional payment rails and blockchain infrastructure. The US launch builds on Visa’s global stablecoin pilots across Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and CEMEA, which reached an annualized US$3.5 billion run rate in monthly settlement volume as of November 2025.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm and Dang Pham via Freepik The post Visa Launches USDC Settlement in the US appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In the Swiss financial services sector, formal blockchain strategies have become standard practice and cryptocurrency services are now live, a new study by the Center for Financial Services Innovation at the University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, found. This underscores the country’s transition from blockchain experimentation to operational maturity. The study, which polled 28 banks and financial service providers in Switzerland in Q3 2025, found that blockchain projects are no longer isolated innovation projects. Instead, they are now embedded into corporate strategies, governance, and budgeting processes, reflecting a shift from innovation hubs to core business functions. In 2025, 86% of the banks surveyed have a blockchain strategy in place or in progress, up 28 points from the 2024 edition of the study. This formalization is further evidenced by the increased priority at the highest levels of management: 64% of banks now classify blockchain as a “high” or “medium” priority, a significant rise from 42% in the previous year. Crypto offerings as the most available blockchain products As blockchain adoption matures, Swiss financial institutions have moved into commercial execution, especially in the areas of cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets, which are now the most developed and commercially viable application. Overall, 61% of respondents have launched crypto offerings, primarily custody and trading services, while 25% have launched tokenized asset products. Among institutions that have not yet launched such offerings, many plan to do so. About 15% of surveyed banks intend to introduce crypto services, while 33% plan to launch tokenized asset products. These findings indicate that Swiss banks initially prioritized crypto offerings, successfully bringing products to market. They are now working on products related to tokenized assets, with most of these initiatives remaining in development. Development status and priotirity of blockchain offerings, Source: 2025 Blockchain Pulse Survey, University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, Dec 2025 While Swiss banks are eagerly embracing tokenized assets, institutions reported several challenges hindering development. Compliance and regulations are currently the leading obstacle, cited by 35% of respondents in 2025. This suggests that institutions are no longer questioning the relevance of tokenization but are working to ensure that the technology fits within existing governance, reporting, and risk frameworks. The second most cited challenge was the lack of business priority (24%), indicating that tokenization has not yet reached the top of the strategic agenda for many institutions. Other key obstacles include the lack of customer interest (12%), highlighting the fact that demand from end-clients remains moderate, as well as integration into business processes (12%), reflecting ongoing technological challenges and the fact that many banks are still working on harmonizing their internal systems and data flows to support tokenized issuance, settlement, and reconciliation. Challenges and concerns regarding tokenized assets, Source: 2025 Blockchain Pulse Survey, University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, Dec 2025 Stablecoins become the new strategic priority As crypto and tokenization initiatives advance, Swiss financial institutions are increasingly turning their attention to stablecoins. The study shows that approximately 55% of respondents with a productive or planned crypto offering intend to offer stablecoin services. These organizations are prioritizing settlement mechanisms (65%), programmable payments (36%), collateral in digital financial markets (35%), and retail applications (14%). Swiss banks believe that an urgent, clearly structured, and proactive regulatory framework for a DLT-based Swiss franc is no longer merely a “nice to have”. Instead, it is a critical issue of national competitive advantage. In fact, 75% of respondents believe that Switzerland is “acting too cautiously”, potentially eroding its innovation leadership. This places Switzerland at a competitive disadvantage relative to the passportable Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework in the European Union (EU). In addition, 61% cited insufficient regulatory or political support to stablecoins, further raising concerns about long-term legal certainty, scalability, and Switzerland’s ability to remain a leading hub for digital-asset innovation. Switzerland’s position regarding stablecoins, Source: 2025 Blockchain Pulse Survey, University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, Dec 2025 Despite strong supply-side interest, doubts remain regarding market adoption. 68% of respondents cited the lack of demand for stablecoins as the top challenge regarding a DLT-based Swiss franc, highlighting a disconnect between institutional readiness and potential adoption by Swiss consumers and businesses. Regulatory uncertainty is another major obstacle, cited by 64% of respondents. This suggests that despite existing DLT legislation, uncertainty persists, most likely around issuance models, supervision, and cross-border usability. Challenges and concerns regarding DLT-based Swiss franc, Source: 2025 Blockchain Pulse Survey, University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, Dec 2025 Demand for blockchain talent surges Evidence of accelerated commitment to blockchain within the Swiss financial services industry is the growth in dedicated personnel. One-third of all surveyed institutions now employ more than ten full-time equivalents (FTEs) in blockchain-focused roles. This shows increased investment in specialized talent compared. In 2024, about 26% of the banks surveyed for the study had more than 10 FTEs positions dedicated exclusively to blockchain topics. This marks a remarkable 7-point year-over-year (YoY) increase. However, the study shows a concentration of expertise within a few larger institutions, underscoring a growing imbalance where most smaller banks still lack in-house blockchain talent. Full-time equivalents (FTEs) in blockchain area per industry, Source: 2025 Blockchain Pulse Survey, University of St. Gallen, ACK, mintminds, PwC and vision&, Dec 2025 In recent years, the demand for blockchain expertise has grown significantly. SkillPanel, a human resources (HR) tech startup, reported that demand for blockchain-skilled professionals grew by 552% in 2022. According to Bitget, a leading crypto exchange and Web3 company, the global blockchain workforce could grow from approximately 300,000 today to over 1.5 million by 2030 if adoption of the technology follows a trajectory similar to artificial intelligence (AI).   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on images by osikugamen and EyeEm via Freepik The post Blockchain Reaches Operational Maturity at Swiss Banks, with Stablecoins Becoming the New Strategic Priority appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Though stablecoins offer potential benefits, including greater increased efficiency in payments, and expanded access to digital finance through increased competition, they also pose significant risks which must be addressed through appropriate regulations and global regulatory coordination, a new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says. The report, released in December 2025, offers a comprehensive view of stablecoins, discussing market developments, use cases, potential benefits, and associated risks. Macrofinancial stability It notes that while stablecoins are designed to maintain a fixed value, these digital currencies can still fluctuate because their backing assets and management are exposed to market, liquidity, credit and governance problems. If reserve assets lose value, are illiquid, or are poorly managed, the stablecoin can trade below its intended peg, undermining confidence and the idea that money should have a single, stable value. During periods of stress, limited or uncertain redemption rights can push holders to sell quickly on secondary markets, creating first-mover advantages and potential runs. Large sell-offs may force issuers to liquidate reserve assets at distressed prices, further weakening the stablecoin and amplifying volatility. Disruption of reserve asset markets The IMF also highlights the risk that large-scale adoption of stablecoins could disrupt key financial markets, especially those for short-term government debt like US Treasury bills. Currently, stablecoins hold about 2% of outstanding US Treasury bills, far less than the share held by money market funds. However, if stablecoins grow to become as sizable as some private sector forecasts indicate, yields in the Treasury bill market could be compressed, potentially altering money market dynamics. More critically, during stablecoin runs, fire sales of the underlying reserve assets could occur, impairing market functioning. Severe impairment in these markets could require intervention by the central bank, and negatively impact the ability of the government to raise funds. Currency substitution Widespread adoption of stablecoin could also facilitate currency substitution, undermining monetary sovereignty and hindering the ability of a government to exercise full control over its own currency and monetary policy. In particular, if a significant share of economic activity were to shift to foreign currency-denominated stablecoins, a central bank’s control over domestic liquidity and interest rates could weaken the transmission of monetary policy. Financial integrity The report also highlights risks relating to financial integrity. Without proper regulation, stablecoins, like other cryptocurrencies, can be misused to commit serious crimes, such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, owing to their pseudonymous nature, low transaction costs, and ease of cross-border use. Stablecoins can be transacted through unhosted wallets that fall outside any regulatory perimeter. This allows them to circumvent customer due diligence, sanctions screening, recordkeeping, and suspicious transaction reporting. The speed and irreversibility of blockchain-based transactions further complicate efforts by law enforcement agencies to investigate, trace, or confiscate illicit transactions involving stablecoins. Safety and cyber risks Beyond macrofinancial concerns and financial integrity, the IMF report also highlights risks related to safety and cyber risks. Stablecoin users face operational risks from flawed processes, system failures, human errors, governance lapses, data breaches, and other external disruptions. Smart contracts, in particular, may include coding errors and security flaws, leading to unauthorized transfers or loss of funds. Custodial wallets may be connected to the Internet and thus face cyber risks, while noncustodial wallets require advanced operational safeguards and still expose users to the risk of losing their private keys. Legal uncertainty Finally, legal uncertainty represents another major risk. A key challenge is the absence of a clear legal classification of stablecoins. Under private law, stablecoins may be categorized as intangible properties or contractual claims, while under financial law, they may be categorized as deposits, e-money, securities, or commodities. Stablecoins can also pose legal risks in the event of an issuer or custodian’s insolvency. In such cases, stablecoin holders may be treated as unsecured creditors rather than having claims over reserve assets. To reduce this risk, strong requirements are needed to ensure that reserve assets are clearly segregated from the issuer’s own funds. In addition, clear legal authority is needed for a swift and orderly insolvency regime tailored for stablecoin issuers and custodians, including mechanisms to ensure that stablecoin holders are repaid promptly. Legal risks are further amplified with the use of new technologies and in cross-border settings. The use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) introduces new questions regarding applicable law, asset ownership, and the enforceability of rights, while smart contracts bring about uncertainty over legal attribution and validity. Need for international collaboration The IMF report notes that while regulatory frameworks and standards for stablecoins are emerging to tackle these risks, the global landscape remains fragmented. In particular, approaches in jurisdictions including Japan, the European Union (EU), the US, and the UK differ in several important areas, including the type of entities allowed to issue stablecoins, approaches toward foreign stablecoin issuers, as well as segregation and custody requirements. These differences create opportunities for regulatory arbitrage which can affect the overall effectiveness of these regulations. Furthermore, the cross-border nature of stablecoins complicates oversight, underscoring the need for strong collaboration, both nationally and internationally.  As stablecoins continue integrate into the global financial system, the IMF urges policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to work together to ensure that the potential benefits of stablecoins materialize while mitigating increasing risks. Such collaboration, the report says, is critical to create a resilient and inclusive financial ecosystem that supports innovative financial solutions and economic growth. The state of stablecoins Stablecoins have captured widespread attention in recent months, owing to their rapid growth. The market now exceeds US$280 billion, accounting for roughly 8% of the total cryptocurrency asset market. This market is led by Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), two US dollar-denominated stablecoins which account for US$184 billion (63%) and US$75 billion (26%) of stablecoin market capitalization, respectively. Euro-denominated stablecoins, by contrast, remain relatively small, totaling only around EUR 395 million, according to the European Central Bank. However, recent regulatory clarity, including the full implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in the EU at the end of 2024, has been a key driver of their emerging growth. Stablecoin market capitalization, Source: Financial Stability Review, European Central Bank, Nov 2025 At present, cryptocurrency trading is the largest use case for stablecoins, allowing traders to move seamlessly between digital assets, manage risk, and lock in gains. However, new use cases are emerging, with growing adoption across cross-border payments, peer-to-peer (P2P) remittances, and business-to-business (B2B) payments. Mesta, for example, is an American startup providing a cross-border payments platform combining traditional real-time fiat payment systems with blockchain-based stablecoin rails. Infinite is a global B2B stablecoin payments infrastructure venture enabling businesses and developers to integrate fast, low-cost cross-border money movement using stablecoins.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Stablecoins Present Both Opportunities and Risks, Requiring Appropriate Regulation and Global Coordination appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management has launched its first tokenised money market fund, My OnChain Net Yield Fund (MONY), on the public Ethereum blockchain. The fund is powered by Kinexys Digital Assets, the firm’s multi-chain asset tokenisation solution. MONY is a 506(c) private placement fund offering qualified investors the ability to earn US dollar yields by subscribing via Morgan Money, J.P. Morgan’s trading and analytics platform for liquidity management. Morgan Money integrates both traditional and on-chain assets, providing access to a range of money market products. J.P. Morgan is the largest global systemically important bank (GSIB) to launch a tokenised money market fund on a public blockchain. Qualified investors can access MONY exclusively through Morgan Money, receiving tokens at their blockchain addresses. The fund invests solely in US Treasury securities and repurchase agreements fully collateralised by US Treasuries. It allows daily dividend reinvestment and subscriptions and redemptions in cash or stablecoins through the platform. Tokenisation provides increased transparency, peer-to-peer transferability, and potential broader collateral use within the blockchain ecosystem. George Gatch “Active management and innovation are at the heart of how we deliver new solutions for investors navigating today’s financial landscape,” said George Gatch, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “By harnessing technology alongside our deep expertise in active management, we’re able to provide clients with advanced, innovative, and cost-effective capabilities that help them achieve their investment goals.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by EyeEm via Freepik The post J.P. Morgan Launches Tokenised Money Market Fund on Ethereum appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

radicant bank has put in place a succession solution to ensure its customers continue to have access to banking services. The boards of directors of both radicant and Alpian have signed a corresponding agreement. Alpian, a Swiss bank regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), forms part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of Europe’s largest banking groups. On 11 November, radicant announced that, in agreement with its majority shareholder BLKB, it would cease banking operations and return its banking license. This decision is part of an orderly process, with customer deposits remaining fully protected. radicant and Alpian have developed a solution to ensure customers continue accessing digital banking services. Both banks’ boards have signed the agreement, and they plan to complete the transition by April 2026. The transaction is subject to the completion of all corporate formalities. Bruno Meyer “Alpian combines a fully digital current account with investment services and personal, professional advice. For our customers, this represents an appropriate succession solution. We are pleased to offer this option together with Alpian,” said Bruno Meyer, CEO of radicant. Gianmarco Bonaita “We look forward to welcoming radicant’s customers to our platform. Our approach is designed to meet the expectations of customers seeking a modern digital bank, and we will ensure the transition is as smooth as possible,” said Gianmarco Bonaita, CEO of Alpian. radicant will promptly and clearly inform approximately 20,000 customers about the next steps. The aim is to ensure customers can continue their banking activities seamlessly with the new provider. radicant will fully maintain all commitments to customers, employees, and partners.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ismode via Freepik The post radicant bank to Transfer Customers to Alpian appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UBS announced that Mike Dargan will step down as Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer at the end of December to pursue an opportunity outside the bank. From 1 January 2026, the Group Technology function will report to Beatriz Martin in her new role as Group Chief Operating Officer. Chris Gelvin will serve as interim Head of Group Technology, in addition to his current role as Chief Operating Officer, Group Technology, until a permanent successor is appointed. Adding Group Technology to the COO portfolio aims to support end-to-end operations, prioritise technology and AI initiatives, and complete the remaining technology integration process. Commenting on the appointments, Group CEO Sergio P. Ermotti said: Sergio P. Ermotti “Mike has been instrumental in positioning our technology as a driver of business growth and resilience and progressing the firm’s strategic shift towards AI and digitisation. I would like to thank Mike for his significant contributions to UBS and wish him all the best for the future. I also congratulate Bea on her expanded responsibilities and thank her for her ongoing leadership.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ghiska via Freepik The post UBS Announces Changes in Technology and Operations Leadership appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

NatWest Group has opened applications for the second year of its Fintech Programme, aimed at UK-based fintechs using AI to reshape customer experience in financial services. Selected fintechs will take part in a 12-week programme. They will receive support from NatWest’s Innovation team to explore potential collaborations and mentorship from senior decision-makers. Participants will also gain access to the bank’s wider innovation network through workshops and events. Some sessions will take place in NatWest’s Accelerator Hubs, including its new London Hub. The 2026 programme seeks to include more fintechs from across the UK, addressing rapid technological change and shifting customer expectations. It is aimed at pre-series A and series A fintechs with proven product-market fit and traction, offering solutions for the customer of the future. This may involve improving engagement and relationships in an agentic AI environment, creating immersive experiences beyond traditional apps, or supporting vulnerable customers. David Grunwald, Director of Innovation at NatWest Group, said: David Grunwald “The pace of advances in AI and technology is fundamentally changing how customers interact with financial services. To stay ahead, whether through new channels, emerging technologies, or smarter engagement – innovation and collaboration are non-negotiables. Fintechs play a vital role in meeting these challenges, so it’s essential we support them to thrive as we come together to shape the future of banking.” Participants have the opportunity to explore collaboration with NatWest, with several last year’s start-ups entering extended discussions with the bank and its partners. Tunic Pay, a real-time payment intelligence platform focused on preventing fraud, formed a partnership with NatWest following the programme. The two organisations are now piloting fraud prevention for NatWest Retail customers via transaction authentication in the mobile app.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by noob via Freepik The post NatWest Opens Applications for 2026 Fintech Programme appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Agnelli family has rejected a surprise offer from crypto group Tether to acquire Serie A giants Juventus, valuing the Turin-based club at €1.1 billion. The bid, announced on Saturday (13 December), came as a shock to the market and sparked speculation that a higher offer could follow. Juventus, Italy’s most successful football club with 36 Serie A titles, has struggled since its ninth consecutive championship in 2020, currently sitting fifth in the league table. Shares in the club have fallen 57% over the past five years, according to LSEG data. Ownership of Juventus has historically bolstered the Agnelli family, founders of carmaker Fiat, in Italy, raising their profile and influence. Tether, led by Italian Paolo Ardoino and a long-time Juventus supporter, has built a stake exceeding 10% in the club. The El Salvador-based crypto issuer said it was prepared to invest up to €1 billion to support Juventus’ sporting and commercial ambitions. However, the family’s holding company, Exor, emphasised it has no plans to sell any of its shares. The proposed deal arrives at a complex moment for the Agnellis. They are in talks to sell GEDI, the publisher of La Repubblica and La Stampa, a move that has prompted strikes and job concerns.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by alexgolovinphotography via Freepik The post Agnellis Reject Tether’s Surprise €1.1B Juventus Bid appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In Switzerland, traditional banks continue to dominate digitalization in retail banking. In 2025, UBS retained its top spot, recognized in a new research by French management consulting firm Colombus Consulting for its strong digital presence, social media engagement, and high-performing digital platforms. At the same time, Swiss neobanks including Neon and Yuh are rapidly advancing their digital offerings, emphasizing personalization and flexibility, the study shows. The 2025 Digital Index, released in December 2025, evaluates the digitalization of customer experience in Swiss retail banking using around 20 quantitative indicators and more than 30 qualitative indicators across 28 major players. The index measures digital presence and performance across websites, mobile applications, social networks, digital marketing, and the EcoIndex, which assesses the environmental impact of a digital service. The research shows that traditional universal banks continued to outperform digital challengers in 2025, leading in digital presence, engagement, social media, and app usage in Switzerland. In particular, UBS maintained its top position thanks to a strong focus on social media. The bank excelled in paid search and sponsored posts on social media, and boasts a strong presence on LinkedIn and Instagram. Although UBB’s web and mobile app scores were more mixed, they remained at or above the panel average. UBS’s digital strategy focuses on building a strong, human-centered brand presence on social media through carefully planned, platform-specific content that educates and engages audiences on relevant financial topics. Messaging, visuals, and tone are tailored to deliver real value, and remain top of mind. UBS has also strengthened its social media presence through high-profile collaborations, especially with Dior via the “UBS House of Craft” initiative. This campaign generated more than 92,000 interactions through content showcasing couture craftsmanship and creativity, enabling the bank to reach new audiences and consolidate its premium positioning on Instagram. Top ranking remains unchanged In 2025, the top 5 retail banking players of Colombus Consulting’s Digital Index remained largely unchanged. Three of these players are traditional incumbents, reflecting their continued adaptation to evolving customer preferences. Among these, Raiffeisen ranked second, advancing one place over the prior year. This rise was driven by a strong performance in the web category, and high online engagement. The bank also performed well in the mobile app category, with good search engine optimization (SEO) and effective investments display advertising. However, social media performances were more modest, despite notable initiatives aimed at younger audiences like the YoungMemberPlus campaign on paid and organic digital campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Google to highlight the benefits of opening a youth account. PostFinance, ranking fourth, excelled in digital marketing, particularly through banners, and demonstrated strong mobile app SEO. However, the bank fell two positions compared to the previous year due to weaker performance in responsible digital practices, LinkedIn and Instagram engagement, and app SEO. PostFinance is a subsidiary company of the state-owned Swiss Post, claiming more than 3.8 million accounts. Swissquote and Revolut rank highest among digital banks Ranking third in the 2025 Digital Index ranking is Swissquote. The Swiss banking group moved up one place, thanks to its excellent customer experience ratings on web platforms and its strong commitment to responsible digital technology. Its large communities on Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok, as well as the high frequency of updates to its mobile apps, set it apart from the rest of the panel. On the other hand, the bank scored lower in digital marketing and generated fewer interactions on LinkedIn and Instagram despite its large subscriber base. Swissquote provides financial services in the areas of trading, investment services and banking services. It operates primarily online, claiming more than 708,000 private and institutional accounts. Ranking fifth in the 2025 Digital Index ranking is Revolut. The digital bank excelled in the mobile dimension, but showcased more limited results in other areas. Revolut is a leading digital banking headquartered in the UK, providing bank accounts, debit cards, credit cards, currency exchange, stock trading, cryptocurrency exchange and peer-to-peer (P2P) payments. It’s the most valuable fintech company in the world, worth US$75 billion, and serves 65 million customers across about 48 countries and territories. The 2025 Digital Index, Source: Digitalisation & Customer Experience in Swiss Retail Banking, Colombus Consulting, Dec 2025 A focus on personalization While digital banks and new challengers still lag behind large universal banks, 2025 marked a turning point as Swiss neobanks accelerated their development by prioritizing personalization and flexibility. In 2025, Neon revamped its offer with four plans to better target each profile. Two new packages, namely Neon Plus and Neon Global, were added to complete its existing Neon Free and Neon Metal plans. Neon Plus builds on the Neon Free offering, which includes no base fee, a Swiss account with eBill and QR payments, a debit Mastercard, and access to share and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading. The Plus plan adds zero foreign exchange (FX) markup on card purchases and cash withdrawals outside Switzerland, two free cash withdrawals per month at Swiss ATMs, phone-based customer support, and extended warranties on electronic devices purchased with the Neon card. The plan is priced at CHF 2 per month or CHF 20 per year. Neon Global includes all the features of Neon Plus, while offering additional insurance coverage for travel, cyber risks, and shopping. It also provides lower fees for international cash withdrawals and money transfers. Neon Global costs CHF 8 per month, or CHF 80 annually. Finally, Neon Metal, the premium tier, incorporates all the benefits of Neon Global and adds a 13 gram stainless steel card, free ATM withdrawals worldwide, and phone insurance against damage and theft. In mid-2025, Neon strengthened its customer service capabilities with the launch Neon Help, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot deployed to handle customer questions across the platform’s support channels and improve service efficiency. At the same time, digital banking platform Yuh continued to grow in strength with its free multi-currency account, no-fee card, as well as TWINT and eBill capabilities. This year, Swissquote acquired full ownership of Yuh and is now working on tightening integration between its traditional trading platform and the newer Yuh app, which targets retail customers with simplified financial services. This underscores the bank’s strategy to bridge advanced trading capabilities with an intuitive, mobile-first banking experience, and its drive to position Yuh as a key growth engine for reaching a younger and more digitally oriented customer base. Launched in 2021 as a joint venture between PostFinance and Swissquote, Yuh is a digital banking platform provides banking, payments, saving, and investing services. The company turned profitable in 2024, and is now serving more than 340,000 accounts. Digital marketing spending trends In 2025, Swiss retail banks spent an estimated CHF 51.5 million on digital marketing, marking a 12% year-over-year (YoY) decline, with paid search spending declining nearly 6 points YoY, the Colombus Consulting research shows. Social media spending remained stable, increasing 0.6 points YoY, and accounted for 40% of digital marketing budgets. TikTok, in particular, has emerged as a key platform for reaching younger audiences. Raiffeisen, for example, focuses heavily on TikTok. While the bank’s TikTok account boasts over 14,000 followers with some videos exceeding hundreds of thousands of views, its accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube are not very active or even inactive. Raiffeisen also partners with high-profile influencers on the platform to reach younger audiences. For example, for its YoungMemberPlus campaign in French-speaking Switzerland, Raiffeisen teamed up with Leo Monferini, also known as Eugene with the handle @leshautscommeleo, who has 4.6 million followers on TikTok. Banks across Europe are increasingly embracing TikTok as part of their marketing strategy. Dutch bank ING uses TikTok as part of its digital marketing strategy to acquire new customers, measure results and improve engagement with younger audiences. Its “Bienestar Digital” campaign, launched in the summer 2024, adopted a full-funnel strategy on TikTok to target users at every stage of the customer journey. The campaign achieved a 11% increase in ad recall, which means that it was memorable, and a 15% rise in new accounts. In the UK, Starling Bank uses TikTok to run financial literacy campaigns, leveraging fun short videos to explain budgeting and savings, and help make banking relatable to Gen Z audiences.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by farknot via Freepik The post Traditional Banks Maintain Lead in Retail Banking Digitalization in Switzerland; Neobanks Double Down on Personalization appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Klarna has announced the launch of its Agentic Product Protocol. The open standard is designed to make online products discoverable and interpretable by AI agents. The protocol provides AI systems with access to a live, structured feed. This feed covers more than 100 million products and 400 million prices across 12 markets. By standardising product data, the protocol enables AI agents to identify, compare and recommend products. It uses up-to-date information on pricing and availability across different merchants, markets and platforms. David Sykes “Before agents can buy, they need to know what exists,” said David Sykes, Chief Commercial Officer at Klarna. He added that the Agentic Product Protocol establishes “a common language for how AI systems, merchants, and platforms exchange product data”. The protocol serves as a foundational layer for agent-driven commerce. Through Klarna’s hosted Agentic Product Protocol API, merchants can connect their product catalogues once. AI agents and platforms that support the standard can access these catalogues without the need for reformatting or creating new listings. The API supports a range of existing feed formats. These include Google Merchant, Shopify, Amazon, Facebook Catalog, as well as CSV and JSON files. AI assistants can surface products shared through the protocol in agent-led interactions. This enables users to discover and compare them without advertising, paywalls or intermediaries. The Agentic Product Protocol specification and API access are available from today to developers, AI platforms and merchants.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by digitizesc via Freepik The post Klarna Launches Open Protocol for AI Product Discovery appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

N26 has announced that its Supervisory Board has appointed Mike Dargan as the next Chief Executive Officer of N26 Bank SE and N26 SE, effective from April 2026. Dargan will succeed Co-founder Maximilian Tayenthal and Marcus W. Mosen. Dargan is an experienced international banking executive with more than 25 years in leadership roles across financial services, technology and transformation. During his tenure as Group Chief Operations and Technology Officer at UBS, he led global digitisation initiatives aimed at improving client experience. Prior to joining UBS in 2016, Dargan served as Chief Information Officer for Corporate and Institutional Banking at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore, and as Managing Director and Head of Corporate Strategy at Merrill Lynch across Asia and Europe. He began his career at Oliver Wyman, where he concluded as Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking for Asia Pacific. Commenting on his appointment, Dargan said: Mike Dargan “I am honoured to begin this next chapter in my professional life. Financial services are the lifeblood of any society, and I am committed to ensuring trust and strong customer outcomes for a digital-only bank. N26 has established a solid foundation, and I look forward to working with the team to develop the next stage of its strategy.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by Lanfira via Freepik The post Mike Dargan Named Incoming CEO of N26 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Singapore-based insurtech firm bolttech has partnered with telecoms company Orange Poland to launch a digital insurance comparison platform. The service is the first of its kind to be offered by a telecom operator in Poland. Built using bolttech’s insurance technology, the platform supports embedded insurance and allows customers to compare and purchase motor and home insurance policies online through a single service. Customers can also choose to receive support from a phone-based agent. The platform is designed to offer a simple, fast and transparent way for customers to compare coverage and complete purchases online. The partners plan to expand the platform by adding more insurance products and related services over time. Stephan Tan Stephan Tan, Chief Executive Officer, EMEA, bolttech, said, “We are proud to deepen our collaboration with Orange Polska with the launch of Insure with Orange. By combining Orange’s digital reach and strong customer relationships with bolttech’s expertise in building and managing insurtech platforms, we can offer customers a fast, intuitive way to compare high-quality insurance offers and buy protection that truly fits their needs.”     This article first appeared on Fintech News Singapore. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mangpor2004 via Freepik   The post bolttech Powers Insurance Comparison Platform for Orange Poland appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

A new study by global technology strategists Juniper Research predicts that the number of installed Digital ID apps will rise from 2.8 billion in 2025 to 6.2 billion by 2030, representing a rapid growth rate of 121%. The research highlights that government efforts worldwide to digitise identity credentials are driving a surge in digital identity adoption, supported by the growing use of decentralised approaches in state-run schemes. Governments are increasingly prioritising digital identity system roll-outs to reduce fraud and improve efficiency, though implementation varies significantly across markets. Louis Atkin “Governments are investing resources into centralised digital identity systems, but adoption will stall unless users have real control. Decentralised models that let citizens decide exactly what data they share are essential to building trust and driving uptake,” explained Louis Atkin, Research Analyst at Juniper Research. Self-sovereign identity systems, a subset of decentralised identity systems, work particularly well in regions with limited physical identity infrastructure and where citizens distrust government systems. To reduce public concern, governments should prioritise data minimisation within identity schemes and avoid mandating system use. “Enabling citizens to manage their own identity use via self-sovereign identity systems is increasingly important to fostering adoption and long-term trust, especially where digital identity is controversial. As such, digital identity vendors should ensure their platforms can support different types of identity scheme designs to best reflect country-level conditions,” Atkin concluded.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by masaideeabdulkoday70 via Freepik The post Digital ID Apps Set to More Than Double by 2030 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved five national trust bank charter applications, including First National Digital Currency Bank, Ripple National Trust Bank, BitGo Bank & Trust, National Association, Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association, and Paxos Trust Company, National Association. Once these institutions meet the OCC’s conditions, they will join roughly 60 other national trust banks currently supervised by the OCC. The OCC applied the same rigorous review standards used for all charter applications, evaluating each on its individual merits and in line with statutory and regulatory requirements. Jonathan V. Gould “New entrants into the federal banking sector are good for consumers, the banking industry and the economy,” said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. “They provide access to new products, services and sources of credit to consumers, and ensure a dynamic, competitive and diverse banking system. The OCC will continue to provide a path for both traditional and innovative approaches to financial services to ensure the federal banking system keeps pace with the evolution of finance and supports a modern economy.” The approvals include de novo national trust bank charters for First National Digital Currency Bank and Ripple National Trust Bank, as well as conversions from state trust companies to national charters for BitGo Bank & Trust, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos Trust Company. The federal banking system consists of more than 1,000 national banks, federal savings associations, and federal branches of foreign banks in the US. Institutions range from community banks under US$30 billion in assets to the largest internationally active banks. They provide retail and wholesale banking, trust, credit card, and other specialized services. Together, federal banking institutions conduct about 67% of US banking activity, hold over US$17 trillion in assets, and manage more than US$85 trillion under their control.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by user850788 via Freepik The post Ripple, BitGo, Paxos, Fidelity, and First Digital Get Trust Bank Charters appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

BridgeWise, a global provider of AI for investment analysis, has developed FixedWise, a solution aimed at transforming how European and international investors analyse corporate bonds. FixedWise addresses the specific characteristics of Europe’s growing debt market. It provides detailed, AI-driven insights at the individual bond level for investors ranging from retail to institutional. By mid-2024, the outstanding value of fixed-income debt securities in Europe reached €26.3 trillion. The public and banking sectors accounted for around 75% of this total. Demand for yield, diversification, and transparency has made local corporate bonds increasingly important in investor portfolios. However, detailed analysis at the level of individual bonds has remained limited, leaving investors with fragmented or incomplete information. FixedWise provides banks, asset managers, brokers, and digital investment platforms with standardised fixed-income intelligence. It covers a broad range of bonds from global issuers. The solution allows investors to screen and compare issuances using key metrics such as duration, risk, yield, maturity, and ratings. This enables consistent evaluation across different sectors and structures. For institutional investors, these granular insights offer enhanced opportunities for portfolio assessment and client advisory. The solution is powered by BridgeWise’s proprietary AI and micro language models, which analyse extensive financial and market data to produce standardised evaluations of issuers and individual bonds. FixedWise assesses the ability of debt-issuing companies to meet obligations and examines each issuance, whether in Europe or abroad, translating complex information into clear, text-based insights. Gaby Diamant, CEO of BridgeWise, said: Gaby Diamant “Making complicated financial data easy to understand and actionable has always been our priority. FixedWise takes that same approach into the fixed income space, helping to demystify a market that’s traditionally been difficult for many investors to navigate and helping institutions expand and deepen their coverage of corporate bonds.” Designed with compliance in mind, FixedWise delivers consistent, comparable, and accessible analysis, supporting both retail and institutional users in understanding risk, structure, and performance potential.     Featured image credit: Bridgewise The post BridgeWise Launches FixedWise for AI-Driven Bond Analysis appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Zodia Custody, a crypto asset custody provider serving institutional clients, has been granted a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). The authorisation allows Zodia Custody Europe to provide regulated digital asset custody services with passporting rights across EU member states. Sophie Bowler, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at Zodia Custody, said: Sophie Bowler “Regulatory authorisation from the CSSF is a milestone for Zodia Custody Europe and demonstrates our commitment to providing licensed and authorised digital asset custody services for institutional clients.” The company also announced the appointment of Daniel Soriano as an Authorised Manager in Luxembourg, alongside Nagata. Soriano brings experience from European technology institutions. At group level, Zodia Custody holds registrations and authorisations with several regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Central Bank of Ireland, the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and the Hong Kong Companies Registry.   Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wahyu_t via Freepik The post Zodia Custody Secures MiCA License in Luxembourg appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.