Anthropic has raised US$30 billion in a Series G funding round led by GIC and Coatue, valuing the company at US$380 billion post-money. The round was co-led by D. E. Shaw Ventures, Dragoneer, Founders Fund, ICONIQ, and MGX, and included previous investors such as Microsoft and NVIDIA, alongside a number of prominent venture and institutional investors. Krishna Rao “Whether it is entrepreneurs, startups, or the world’s largest enterprises, the message from our customers is the same: Claude is increasingly becoming critical to how businesses work,” said Krishna Rao, Anthropic’s Chief Financial Officer. “This fundraising reflects the incredible demand we are seeing from these customers, and we will use this investment to continue building the enterprise-grade products and models they have come to depend on.” Since earning its first revenue less than three years ago, Anthropic’s run-rate revenue has reached US$14 billion, growing more than tenfold annually. The number of customers spending over US$100,000 annually on Claude has increased sevenfold in the past year, while those spending over US$1 million now exceed 500. Eight of the Fortune 10 are Claude customers. The Series G funds will support frontier research, product development, and infrastructure expansion, including making Claude available across Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The company continues to diversify its AI hardware, using AWS Trainium, Google TPUs, and NVIDIA GPUs, to improve performance and resilience for enterprise clients.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Drstock_crative via Freepik The post Anthropic Raises $30B Series G to Expand Enterprise AI Research and Infrastructure appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

BitGo and 21Shares, a global issuer of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs), have agreed to expand their partnership across the US and Europe. The collaboration will deepen across staking and custody services to support 21Shares’ growing suite of crypto ETP products. 21Shares manages US$5.7bn in assets and offers a broad range of digital asset investment products. Its institutional approach to product development and operations positions it as a strategic partner for BitGo. This comes amid rising demand for regulated crypto exposure in key markets. BitGo provides security, trading and execution capabilities, integrated staking services, and a regulated, insured custody framework. Through BitGo, 21Shares gains access to liquidity, execution across electronic and OTC markets, and competitive staking rewards. Adam Sporn “21Shares is one of the leading digital asset managers globally and we’ve valued our partnership from the outset,” said Adam Sporn, Head of Prime Brokerage and Institutional Sales at BitGo. “We’re excited to expand our relationship across their growing suite of U.S. ETF products and global ETPs across staking and custody.” Andres Valencia “21Shares prides itself on providing a custody framework designed to support institutional digital asset operations and risk management across its global lineup of ETPs,” said Andres Valencia, Head of Investment Management at 21Shares. “BitGo was selected due to the firm’s track record in regulatory compliance, safety and security, and we are thrilled to be expanding our relationship across staking and custody services.” The expansion follows recent milestones for BitGo, including approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to convert its subsidiary BitGo Bank & Trust into a federally chartered trust bank, and its listing on the New York Stock Exchange. BitGo also holds a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license from Germany’s BaFin, allowing it to provide regulated services across the EU.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Frolopiaton Palm via Freepik The post BitGo and 21Shares Expand Partnership Across US and Europe for Crypto ETPs appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In its response to the planned amendments to the Financial Institutions Act, the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) supports the objective of strengthening Switzerland’s international competitiveness in stablecoins. It says this requires a globally competitive legal framework. Such a framework should protect monetary sovereignty, enable innovation, and enhance Switzerland’s attractiveness as a location for stablecoin issuance. It must not undermine financial stability, integrity, or customer protection. The proposed amendments would create a clear legal basis for issuing certain stablecoins. These are crypto-based payment instruments with a stable value, pegged to a currency and redeemable at nominal value. The SBA supports the draft in principle but raises several concerns. The association says regulators should integrate new technologies into the existing financial system. Regulation should remain coherent and technology-neutral. It should also allow traditional institutions to innovate. This includes permitting banks to issue tokenised deposits and stablecoins. Banks already meet the most extensive supervisory requirements. The SBA therefore sees no reason to prevent them from issuing stablecoins under a banking licence. It notes that the EU’s MiCAR framework does not impose such restrictions. By contrast, the draft limits issuance to payment instrument institutions. The SBA warns that this Switzerland-specific approach could weaken the country’s appeal and put domestic banks at a competitive disadvantage. Natalie Graf, Senior Legal Counsel at the SBA, said: Natalie Graf “With its ambition to position Switzerland as a leading hub for innovation in digital finance, the SBA favours a modern, internationally compatible regulatory framework that is conducive to stability.” The SBA also calls for stronger customer protection. It says payment instrument institutions should not place client funds with other such institutions. From a financial stability perspective, only banks should hold sight deposits with the Swiss National Bank, and only under strict conditions. It therefore urges authorities to carry out a comprehensive impact assessment covering all stablecoin use cases.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Dang Pham, Dang Pham and rawpixel.com The post Swiss Bankers Association Backs Stablecoin Bill in Principle, Flags Risks for Banks appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

LSEG has announced plans to develop an on-chain settlement solution, the LSEG Digital Securities Depository (DSD). The DSD will serve institutional participants and connect traditional and digital markets. It will support multiple chains and allow interaction between existing settlement platforms and emerging digital infrastructures. The first deliverable is scheduled for 2026, subject to regulatory approval. LSEG currently operates a DLT-based Digital Markets Infrastructure (DMI), powered by Microsoft Azure. The DMI has enabled tokenisation and broader fund distribution. The new DSD capability will improve collateral management and provide access to liquidity across fixed income, equities, and private markets. LSEG is preparing for a future in which most bonds on exchanges, and eventually most securities, are tokenised. This will give market participants greater transparency and improve operational efficiency. As part of the design and implementation process, LSEG will establish a strategic partner group to incorporate market feedback and support scale, enabling issuance, settlement, and trading of both digitally native and digitally represented traditional securities. Participants in this programme will be announced in due course. Daniel Maguire, Group Head of Markets at LSEG, said: Daniel Maguire “We look forward to welcoming new strategic partners as we build LSEG Digital Markets Infrastructure, a seamless ecosystem in which participants can move effortlessly between digital and traditional markets, connected across time zones and choice of payment options.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post LSEG Launches Digital Securities Depository to Link Traditional and Digital Markets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The European Parliament has expressed support for a fully-fledged digital euro that can operate both online and offline. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved an amendment to provide both options, rejecting a proposal from the European People’s Party (EPP) rapporteur to limit the currency to offline use only, according to Finextra. Jonás Fernández, spokesperson for the Socialist & Democrats (S&D) on economic and monetary affairs, said: Jonás Fernández “We call on the EPP rapporteur to respect the House’s position and abandon a strategy that splits the project. Delaying the approval of an online digital euro while pushing an offline version with far-right support is not viable. It is time to move forward decisively.” The European Central Bank (ECB) is advancing the digital euro to safeguard monetary sovereignty amid cross-border trading volatility and unpredictable US policy. The project requires a legislative framework before launch. If lawmakers and national governments agree next year, the ECB could begin testing the digital euro in 2027, with a potential launch in 2029.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Who is Danny via Freepik The post EU Parliament Backs Digital Euro for Both Online and Offline Use appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Uber will expand its robotaxi services to several international markets, including Madrid, Houston and Zurich, as the ride-hailing company invests hundreds of millions of dollars in the emerging sector. The company has previously announced plans to launch autonomous vehicles in San Francisco Bay Area, London, Munich and Los Angeles in collaboration with technology partners such as Lucid, Nuro, Baidu, Wayve, Beijing Momenta Technology and Volkswagen. Bloomberg reports that Uber intends to make driverless vehicles a key growth area, targeting more than ten markets globally by the end of 2026. Uber has not disclosed exact launch dates or confirmed which technology partners it will use in the new markets, though a spokesperson said it will work with previously publicised collaborators. In Asia, Hong Kong will become Uber’s first robotaxi market, with China’s Baidu holding a license for small-scale driverless trials. In Switzerland, WeRide has an autonomous-driving license for certain areas. Uber faces competition from Waymo, which offers driverless rides via the Uber app in Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, and through its own app in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Miami. The company currently provides driverless services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh with WeRide, and in Dallas with Avride.     Featured image credit: Uber The post Uber to Launch Robotaxis in Hong Kong and Zurich appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UBS is increasing its investments in AI, aiming to transform front- and back-office operations, CEO Sergio Ermotti said during the firm’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Ermotti emphasised the importance of a “one-bank approach to our entire operation” as AI-enabled capabilities are deployed to improve services and productivity, alongside the ongoing integration with Credit Suisse, which UBS acquired in 2023. Sergio P. Ermotti “Building on these strong foundations, we are investing in a portfolio of large-scale transformational AI programmes designed to increase our operational resilience, enhance the client experience and unlock higher levels of efficiency and effectiveness across the organisation,” Ermotti said. UBS launched more than 300 AI use cases across its operations in 2025, and appointed its first Chief AI Officer, Daniele Magazzeni, former analytics chief at JPMorgan Chase, last month. Ermotti noted that adoption of AI across the firm is “increasingly strong, supported by our rollout of next-generation tools and platforms to improve efficiency and productivity.” The AI initiatives will run alongside the Credit Suisse integration, which Ermotti expects to substantially complete by the end of 2026, according to Banking Dive. He noted that “the final wave of client migration has the highest level of complexity and is a key dependency to fully winding down the legacy infrastructure through the end of the year.” UBS has seen recent executive changes related to AI leadership. Ronald Jansen, Global Head of the AI lab in UBS’s global banking division, departed this month to join JPMorgan Chase. Mike Dargan, former Chief Technology and Operations Officer, left to become CEO of German challenger N26. Other banks are also restructuring around AI. Wells Fargo appointed Saul Van Beurden to lead its AI and consumer banking operations, while the Commonwealth Bank of Australia added Ranil Boteju as Chief AI Officer.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mohammadhridoy_11 via Freepik The post UBS Steps Up AI Initiatives to Reshape Banking Operations appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Thales plans to recruit more than 9,000 employees worldwide in 2026. This follows the hiring of 8,800 employees in 2025, surpassing the initially planned target of 8,000. Over the past five years, Thales has recruited at least 8,000 people annually to support growth across its three business sectors. In 2025, Thales received 1.4 million applications worldwide, up from one million in 2024. The Universum ranking placed Thales first among the most attractive employers for engineering students in France, after second place the previous year. Strengthening diversity remains a priority. In 2025, women accounted for 32% of all hires, and 69% of management committees included at least four women. Thales aims to reach 75% in 2026. Source: Thales In 2026, recruitment is expected to include nearly 3,300 in France, 800 in the UK, 630 in North America, 530 in Australia, 520 in the Netherlands, 450 in India, 300 in Germany, 240 in Romania, 200 in Singapore, and 140 in Poland. Within France, the largest recruitment will be in Île-de-France (1,630), followed by Brittany, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and other regions. Source: Thales Around 40% of new hires will work in engineering roles, including software, systems, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data, with 25% in industry positions. Thales will also support internal mobility for 3,500 employees and provide learning opportunities through more than 35 internal academies. The company continues to focus on apprentices and interns, particularly in France, where it will host 1,700 trainees and 1,600 apprentices in 2026. Programmes such as “Vocation Makers” and STEM for All aim to encourage young people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue careers in science and technology. Patrice Caine “We take great pride in seeing Thales’ appeal grow stronger year after year. Together, we are shaping the future by inspiring an increasing number of young people, especially young women, to pursue careers in science and technology,” said Patrice Caine, CEO of Thales.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by ktasimar via Freepik The post Thales Plans to Recruit 9,000+ Employees Worldwide in 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Beast Industries, a creator-based platform owned by MrBeast, has acquired Step, a fintech company based in the US that focuses on financial literacy and money management. The acquisition brings together Step’s technology platform and fintech team with Beast Industries’ audience reach and philanthropic initiatives. The combined organisation aims to provide practical solutions for financial wellness across different life stages. Jeff Housenbold “Financial health is fundamental to overall wellbeing, yet too many people lack access to the tools and knowledge they need to build financial security,” said Jeff Housenbold, CEO of Beast Industries. “This acquisition positions us to meet our audiences where they are, with practical, technology-driven solutions that can transform their financial futures for the better.” Step, founded by CJ MacDonald, has developed technology and resources that educate users on financial literacy and help them build credit. The platform has over seven million users and investors including Stephen Curry, Charli D’Amelio, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, and The Chainsmokers. MacDonald “Our goal has always been to improve the financial future of the next generation,” said MacDonald. “There are a lot of synergies between Step and what Jimmy, Jeff and the team at Beast Industries believe in when it comes to helping people and giving back. We’re excited about how this acquisition is going to amplify our platform and bring more products to Step customers.” The partnership seeks to address financial literacy gaps and support communities at all stages of life through technology and educational initiatives.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by MrBeast via Facebook The post MrBeast’s Beast Industries Acquires Step to Expand Financial Wellness Platform appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Swiss Fintech Association (SFTA) has submitted its response to the consultation on the proposed Swiss fintech and crypto regulatory framework. Its aim is to ensure that the perspectives of innovators are taken into account. In its response, the SFTA highlighted that stablecoins should be issuable with blacklisting only. The proposed whitelisting requirement, it argued, does not align with technological use cases or international trends. The Association also stressed that new license types need to be commercially viable. Providers should be able to offer a broad range of services. Regulatory requirements should remain proportionate, particularly for startups, and licensing processes should be swift. Additionally, the SFTA emphasised the importance of regulatory clarity for decentralised financial systems. It sees these systems as central to the future of finance. The Association also underscored that on-chain privacy should be regarded as a fundamental right. Individuals should be able to maintain privacy over transactions in a manner comparable to cash. The SFTA continues to engage with regulators. Its goal is to support Switzerland as a competitive and innovation-friendly environment for fintech and crypto businesses.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by suriyawutsuriya via Freepik The post Swiss Fintech Association Calls for Clearer Rules on Stablecoins and DeFi appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Switzerland ranks among the world’s most innovative countries, yet its position as a startup hub is increasingly under pressure, not due to a lack of ideas, but because of slow procedures, regulatory barriers, and non-competitive conditions for talent, capital, and growth. The Swiss Startup Association, together with partner organisations, has outlined 20 policy reform proposals in the Startup Agenda Switzerland to address these structural challenges. Key recommendations include modern employee share schemes, better conditions for venture capital, and the reduction of unnecessary regulatory burdens. Raphael Tobler, President of the Swiss Startup Association, said: Raphael Tobler “The competition for the best founders and ideas is intensifying, and Switzerland risks falling behind. Without targeted reforms, innovation and growth will increasingly occur outside our country. This trend is already underway. The Startup Agenda Switzerland shows how we can stop it and secure Switzerland as a leading startup location.” Politicians from all Swiss parties support the proposals, which target both federal and cantonal authorities. In the coming months, the Association will actively present them in the political process and engage with policymakers, administrations, businesses, and other stakeholders, with the aim of safeguarding jobs, value creation, and technological development in Switzerland.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post 20 Reforms Proposed to Address Challenges Facing Swiss Startups appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Procivis, a technology provider for digital identities, credentials and wallets and a subsidiary of Orell Füssli, has been awarded the contract to deliver the sandbox for the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI) in Lithuania following a public tender process. The state Agency for Digital Solutions (SDSA) will collaborate on implementing the project. Under the agreement, Procivis will build a national test environment. This environment will support Lithuania’s preparations for the EU-wide rollout of the EUDI Wallet. The sandbox will allow testing of digital identity use cases for citizens, relying parties and public institutions. It will use Procivis One, a production-ready platform that is compliant with eIDAS 2.0. The initiative will help Lithuania meet eIDAS 2.0 requirements. These requirements mandate that all EU Member States provide a national digital identity wallet by the end of 2026. The sandbox will also support testing of cross-border use cases, including access to public services, travel-related services and other regulated scenarios. In addition, it will be relevant to activities under the EU’s Large Scale Pilot programme, including the LSP Aptitude Consortium, which focuses on testing digital identity solutions across selected industries. The 12-month project will support knowledge-building for Lithuania’s future EUDI Wallet infrastructure. The environment will let stakeholders test real-world scenarios using production-grade technology. Andreas Freitag “Supporting governments in delivering eIDAS 2.0-compliant digital identity infrastructure on time and within budget is at the core of our mission,” said Andreas Freitag, CEO of Procivis. “Our work with Lithuania will focus on rapid validation and interoperability.” Tomas Misevičius, Director at SDSA, said the selection of Procivis was based on the maturity of its technology and the experience of its team. Tomas Misevičius “This implementation will also provide a solid foundation for the timely introduction of Lithuania’s official EUDI Wallet,” he said.       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Kajikom via Freepik The post Lithuania Taps Procivis to Build EU Digital Identity Wallet Sandbox appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

ClearBank has appointed Neil Drennan as Chief Technology Officer. Drennan will lead the development and enhancement of ClearBank’s cloud-based API and payments infrastructure as the company expands across the UK and Europe. He joins from Visa, where he spent three years as Chief Technology Officer for Visa Cross Border Solutions and Currency Cloud, a global provider of cross-border payments, collections and foreign exchange. He has over 15 years’ experience in media and financial services, including roles at 10x Future Technologies and Amazon. At Visa, Drennan established the Cloud Centre of Excellence (CCoE) programme to embed cloud-native best practices across the business. He has extensive experience leading technology teams and developing cloud-based financial solutions in the UK, European and US markets. At ClearBank, Drennan will lead the technology team and sit on the Group executive team as the company accelerates its expansion. Last year, ClearBank launched its channel partnerships offer and embedded banking services for corporate clients. Mark Fairless, Chief Executive Officer of ClearBank, said: Mark Fairless “Neil will bring invaluable experience in streamlining and scaling our leading cloud-based platform, to support our on-going growth. As we expand into new offerings and markets, our technology will continue to be a critical differentiator in the quality and resilience of our propositions for our clients.” Neil Drennan added: Neil Drennan “I have admired the way ClearBank has shaken up the payments and banking sector over the last decade. Its approach of blending innovative cloud-based technology with trusted regulatory processes has established it as a leader in UK financial services. I look forward to bringing my experience of working with international clients to drive ClearBank’s growth over the next few years.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by LADALIDI via Freepik The post Neil Drennan Named ClearBank CTO to Lead Cloud and Payments Expansion appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In June 2026, Zurich will host the first Swiss Fintech Week, providing a platform for the city’s fintech ecosystem. The Kongresshaus Zurich will serve as the main venue, bringing together startups, established fintechs, financial institutions, investors, and academics to discuss the technological future of the Swiss financial centre. Switzerland is a leading global fintech hub, but unlike other financial centres, it has not had a dedicated fintech week. Swiss Fintech Week aims to address this by combining existing initiatives and new formats into a week-long programme in Zurich with national and international reach. The event will focus on key technological developments in the sector. Discussions will cover the impact of AI on banking efficiency and customer experiences. They will also examine Switzerland’s role in regulated digital assets. In addition, the programme will explore the integration of financial services into the digital lives of businesses and consumers. Swiss Fintech Week is organised by Tenity and the Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum. Andreas Iten, CEO and Co-Founder of Tenity, said: Andreas Iten “Swiss Fintech Week provides a platform that underlines Switzerland’s position as a leading centre for innovation and investment. It is about connecting global perspectives with local expertise and advancing innovation with international relevance.” Pascal Novotny, Managing Director of Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum, added: Pascal Novotny “The financial sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Strategic partnerships between traditional institutions and fintechs are key to shaping the digital future. We aim to make the country’s innovative strength more visible and foster strategic dialogue.” The Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) supports the event as a Global Strategic Partner, promoting international exchange. While the Kongresshaus will host major conferences, the programme will also include startup showcases, pitch events, side events, and networking across Zurich.     Featured image credit: Swiss Fintech Week The post Zurich to Host First Swiss Fintech Week in June 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Over the past decade, the Baltic region has established itself as a recognised centre for financial innovation within the European Union. Strong digital infrastructure, progressive regulation, and a highly skilled technology workforce have enabled fintech companies from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to scale far beyond their home markets. One such company is Aventus Group – an international fintech-driven lending group founded in 2009 and led by CEO Andrejus Trofimovas. From its Baltic roots, Aventus Group has grown into a global organisation operating across 20 countries on four continents, demonstrating that scale, resilience, and disciplined execution can coexist even in an increasingly volatile world. Navigating Through Crisis and Change Aventus Group was founded in the aftermath of the global financial crisis—a period that reshaped financial markets and tested traditional business models. Having previously worked in real estate, one of the sectors most affected by the downturn, Andrejus Trofimovas and his partners identified consumer lending as an opportunity to build a more agile, technology-driven business. From the outset, technology was positioned as a strategic pillar, not a supporting function. Rather than relying on third-party systems, the Group invested early in developing its own IT infrastructure. This decision proved critical, enabling automation, scalability, and consistent customer experience across multiple markets. Initial operations in Lithuania and Latvia provided a strong foundation, but long-term growth required geographic expansion. The Group moved early into larger and more diverse markets, including Ukraine and Poland, before continuing its expansion across Europe and beyond. Today, Aventus Group remains focused on international growth, with further expansion planned for 2026, particularly in mature, well-regulated markets. Scale, Diversification, and Technology at the Core Since its founding, Aventus Group companies have issued nearly EUR 7 billion in loans, supported by a diversified business model spanning short- and long-term consumer lending, leasing, real estate development, and technology projects. This diversification allows the Group to balance risk, respond to economic cycles, and maintain stability across markets. Technology remains central to operations. A large in-house IT team continuously improves lending platforms to ensure speed, transparency, and efficiency for customers. This operational discipline enables Aventus Group to adapt quickly to changing market conditions while maintaining consistent standards across jurisdictions. Today, Aventus Group employs over 4,500 professionals worldwide and is among the largest online lending groups globally by geographic reach. Operating Through Geopolitical Disruption The war in Ukraine marked one of the most significant challenges in the Group’s history. Ukraine was an important market for Aventus Group, and the impact of the conflict was felt both professionally and personally by leadership and employees. Despite the extreme circumstances, all Aventus Group companies operating in Ukraine prior to the war continued their activities, maintaining operational discipline and supporting local teams. The crisis reinforced a core strategic principle: geographic diversification is essential for resilience. Thanks to strong performance in other markets, Aventus Group was able to repay over EUR 40 million, including interest, in war-affected loans to PeerBerry investors within less than two years. To date, PeerBerry remains the only platform that has fully repaid all loans impacted by the war, while many market participants continue to face unresolved exposures in the region. Following the invasion, Aventus Group exited the Russian market immediately. In parallel, the Group has committed several million euros to humanitarian support initiatives in Ukraine, including assistance for seriously ill children. Governance, People, and Leadership Managing a global fintech business requires strong governance and trusted local leadership. Aventus Group operates through empowered local teams while maintaining central oversight of risk management, compliance, and strategy. Regulatory complexity remains one of the key challenges in international finance. Each jurisdiction presents unique legal frameworks, consumer protection requirements, and supervisory expectations. The Group’s ability to monitor regulatory change and adapt swiftly is critical to its long-term sustainability. Beyond regulation, daily decision-making is shaped by macroeconomic trends, political developments, and currency fluctuations. Navigating this complexity requires robust systems and experienced leadership. Strong Financial Performance and Outlook In 2025, Aventus Group delivered EUR 95.67 million in net profit, representing approximately 10% year-on-year growth. During the year, Group lenders issued EUR 1.3 billion in new loans, while the total loan portfolio reached EUR 346.84 million, up 27% compared to the end of 2024. The Group’s financial position continued to strengthen, with equity reaching EUR 225.68 million, reflecting 47% annual growth, and interest income increasing to EUR 411.39 million, up 18% year-on-year. Importantly, Aventus Group further reduced investor obligations, achieving a debt-to-equity ratio below 20%, well below industry averages. Looking ahead, Aventus Group plans to expand further in 2026, targeting additional mature markets, broadening business lending activities, and introducing new solutions for retail customers. With scale, diversification, and disciplined leadership at its core, the Group continues to build a resilient fintech platform designed for long-term growth in an uncertain global environment.     Featured image credit: Aventus Group The post From the Baltics to Global Fintech: Aventus Group’s Path to Sustainable Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Over the past decade, the Baltic region has established itself as a recognised centre for financial innovation within the European Union. Strong digital infrastructure, progressive regulation, and a highly skilled technology workforce have enabled fintech companies from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to scale far beyond their home markets. One such company is Aventus Group – an international fintech-driven lending group founded in 2009 and led by CEO Andrejus Trofimovas. From its Baltic roots, Aventus Group has grown into a global organisation operating across 20 countries on four continents, demonstrating that scale, resilience, and disciplined execution can coexist even in an increasingly volatile world. Navigating Through Crisis and Change Aventus Group was founded in the aftermath of the global financial crisis—a period that reshaped financial markets and tested traditional business models. Having previously worked in real estate, one of the sectors most affected by the downturn, Andrejus Trofimovas and his partners identified consumer lending as an opportunity to build a more agile, technology-driven business. From the outset, technology was positioned as a strategic pillar, not a supporting function. Rather than relying on third-party systems, the Group invested early in developing its own IT infrastructure. This decision proved critical, enabling automation, scalability, and consistent customer experience across multiple markets. Initial operations in Lithuania and Latvia provided a strong foundation, but long-term growth required geographic expansion. The Group moved early into larger and more diverse markets, including Ukraine and Poland, before continuing its expansion across Europe and beyond. Today, Aventus Group remains focused on international growth, with further expansion planned for 2026, particularly in mature, well-regulated markets. Scale, Diversification, and Technology at the Core Since its founding, Aventus Group companies have issued nearly EUR 7 billion in loans, supported by a diversified business model spanning short- and long-term consumer lending, leasing, real estate development, and technology projects. This diversification allows the Group to balance risk, respond to economic cycles, and maintain stability across markets. Technology remains central to operations. A large in-house IT team continuously improves lending platforms to ensure speed, transparency, and efficiency for customers. This operational discipline enables Aventus Group to adapt quickly to changing market conditions while maintaining consistent standards across jurisdictions. Today, Aventus Group employs over 4,500 professionals worldwide and is among the largest online lending groups globally by geographic reach. Operating Through Geopolitical Disruption The war in Ukraine marked one of the most significant challenges in the Group’s history. Ukraine was an important market for Aventus Group, and the impact of the conflict was felt both professionally and personally by leadership and employees. Despite the extreme circumstances, all Aventus Group companies operating in Ukraine prior to the war continued their activities, maintaining operational discipline and supporting local teams. The crisis reinforced a core strategic principle: geographic diversification is essential for resilience. Thanks to strong performance in other markets, Aventus Group was able to repay over EUR 40 million, including interest, in war-affected loans to PeerBerry investors within less than two years. To date, PeerBerry remains the only platform that has fully repaid all loans impacted by the war, while many market participants continue to face unresolved exposures in the region. Following the invasion, Aventus Group exited the Russian market immediately. In parallel, the Group has committed several million euros to humanitarian support initiatives in Ukraine, including assistance for seriously ill children. Governance, People, and Leadership Managing a global fintech business requires strong governance and trusted local leadership. Aventus Group operates through empowered local teams while maintaining central oversight of risk management, compliance, and strategy. Regulatory complexity remains one of the key challenges in international finance. Each jurisdiction presents unique legal frameworks, consumer protection requirements, and supervisory expectations. The Group’s ability to monitor regulatory change and adapt swiftly is critical to its long-term sustainability. Beyond regulation, daily decision-making is shaped by macroeconomic trends, political developments, and currency fluctuations. Navigating this complexity requires robust systems and experienced leadership. Strong Financial Performance and Outlook In 2025, Aventus Group delivered EUR 95.67 million in net profit, representing approximately 10% year-on-year growth. During the year, Group lenders issued EUR 1.3 billion in new loans, while the total loan portfolio reached EUR 346.84 million, up 27% compared to the end of 2024. The Group’s financial position continued to strengthen, with equity reaching EUR 225.68 million, reflecting 47% annual growth, and interest income increasing to EUR 411.39 million, up 18% year-on-year. Importantly, Aventus Group further reduced investor obligations, achieving a debt-to-equity ratio below 20%, well below industry averages. Looking ahead, Aventus Group plans to expand further in 2026, targeting additional mature markets, broadening business lending activities, and introducing new solutions for retail customers. With scale, diversification, and disciplined leadership at its core, the Group continues to build a resilient fintech platform designed for long-term growth in an uncertain global environment.     Featured image credit: Aventus Group The post From the Baltics to Global Fintech: Aventus Group’s Path to Sustainable Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

APEXX Global has announced a strategic investment of up to US$10 million led by Finch Capital, a European growth investor focused on payments and financial technology. APEXX operates a payment orchestration platform for enterprise merchants. The platform allows merchants to manage payments through a single API. Transactions are routed across multiple providers to improve acceptance rates and reduce processing costs. This supports more efficient payment operations at scale. The investment follows a period of commercial growth. APEXX secured several enterprise clients in late 2025, including Jet2, Iglu.com and Norse Atlantic. These additions increased platform usage and revenue. The company is now close to break-even. The funding will support the next phase of growth. This includes continued product development and international expansion. Demand for payment orchestration is increasing as merchants manage more complex payment environments. As part of the investment, Finch Capital Managing Partner Radboud Vlaar will join the APEXX Global board. He will take on the role of Chairman. Finch Capital manages more than €500 million in assets. It has invested in over 50 companies across Europe and the US. Its portfolio includes regulated financial infrastructure and payments businesses. Radboud Vlaar said: Radboud Vlaar “APEXX has developed a differentiated platform with a clear focus on merchant performance. Payments is a complex and global market. APEXX is well positioned to optimise acceptance and cost at scale.” Peter Keenan, CEO and Co-Founder of APEXX Global, said: Peter Keenan “Finch Capital brings strong payments expertise and experience supporting international growth. This investment supports our plans to scale while remaining focused on delivering measurable outcomes for merchants.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by smmedia.io via Freepik The post APEXX Global Secures $10M from Finch Capital to Expand Platform Globally appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Thredd has announced that Vault Payment Solutions has selected its issuing and processing platform to support its expansion on Mastercard’s global network. The partnership will support the launch of new prepaid, debit and private-label card programmes in Australia and the UK. Vault is a Mastercard Principal Issuing Partner. The company provides end-to-end programme management and card infrastructure for rewards, gift cards, embedded finance and closed-loop private-label programmes. Under the agreement, Vault will use Thredd’s issuing and processing services. This will support both virtual and physical cards. It also includes tokenisation, fraud monitoring, 3DS, digital wallet integration and transaction controls. Vault selected Thredd following a competitive evaluation involving multiple global processors. According to the companies, the decision was based on Thredd’s ability to support multi-region launches. Other factors included technical flexibility, operational presence in Australia and the UK, and collaboration with Mastercard. Damien Gough “Vault is exactly the kind of partner we like to work with,” said Damien Gough, Head of Asia Pacific at Thredd. “Their focus on programme management and embedded payments aligns well with our capabilities. We look forward to supporting their expansion across Australia, the UK and other markets.” Michael Jess, Founder and CEO of Vault Payment Solutions Group, said the choice of processor was a critical step after connecting directly to Mastercard. Michael Jess “Thredd stood out for its technology, regional expertise and collaborative approach. Our teams share an understanding of complex card use cases. Together, we are supporting the delivery of new embedded finance products for our clients.” The partnership supports Thredd’s wider focus on providing issuing and processing infrastructure for programme managers operating across multiple markets.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by HobieArt via Freepik This article first appeared on Fintech News Australia The post Vault Selects Thredd to Support Card Programme Expansion in Australia and the UK appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Y Combinator (YC) has announced that startups participating in its programme can now opt to receive their funding, up to US$500,000, in stablecoins. Startups are increasingly using stablecoins such as USDC to facilitate faster and cheaper financial transactions worldwide. YC said these digital currencies allow broader access to financial services and enable payments with the ease and speed of a text message. Several YC-funded startups, including Aspora and DolarApp, have already integrated stablecoins to support financial services across India and Latin America. YC highlighted that regulatory developments, including the passage of the GENIUS Act, and increasing adoption by financial institutions are driving greater use of stablecoins among startups. YC stated that many startups, whether crypto-focused or not, are likely to incorporate digital currencies for payments, banking, or capital raising.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Y Combinator Startups Can Now Receive Up to $500,000 Funding in Stablecoins appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Australia-founded payment platform Airwallex is launching in Germany, the company announced on Tuesday (3 February). Tom Sellin “Competition in the German market is high, but at the same time the market is large and not yet fully digitalised,” said Tom Sellin, responsible for Airwallex’s growth in Germany. Airwallex offers a platform for businesses to make and receive international transfers, manage foreign currency accounts, and process online payments. It competes with Wise, Adyen, and Stripe, and claims around 200,000 customers, ranging from start-ups and SMEs to large corporations. Sellin said German companies are strong exporters but “their money often moves at a snail’s pace.” Airwallex processes 68% of payments instantly and offers local accounts in international markets. The company aims to gain several thousand active customers in Germany in the near term. Airwallex operates in Europe under a Dutch e-money license, granted in 2021, which provides access to all EU markets, according to Handelsblatt. One of its first German clients is the fintech Moss, which offers corporate credit cards and a platform for SMEs to manage expenses. In 2025, Airwallex reported recurring revenue of about US$1 billion. The company has moved its headquarters from Australia to Singapore and San Francisco. It plans to invest 31 million euros in Germany over the next five years, mainly in a Berlin office and building the local team. It raised 280 million euros in funding at the end of last year and is now valued at 6.9 billion euros. Airwallex is also facing scrutiny from the Australian regulator Austrac. The authority has ordered an external review to check compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations. Airwallex said it will cooperate fully and described the review as a “transparent opportunity” to validate its measures.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by claudiodiv via Freepik The post Airwallex Launches in Germany Amid High Competition appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.