Nu has received conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a de novo national bank, Nubank, N.A. The approval is part of Nu’s strategy to expand its operations and product offerings in the US. Once fully authorised, the bank charter will enable Nu to offer deposit accounts, credit cards, and lending services. It will also allow the company to provide digital asset custody under a federal framework. David Vélez “This approval isn’t just an expansion of our operation; it’s an opportunity to prove our thesis that a digital-first, customer-centric model is the future of financial services globally. While we remain fully focused on our core markets in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, this step allows us to build the next generation of banking in the US,” said David Vélez, founder and CEO of Nu Holdings. The US organisation will be led by co-founder Cristina Junqueira, who has relocated to the US. Roberto Campos Neto, former President of the Central Bank of Brazil, will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Nu has entered the bank organisation phase, during which it will meet OCC conditions and seek approvals from the FDIC and Federal Reserve. The company plans to capitalise the institution within 12 months and open the bank within 18 months. Nu submitted its OCC application on 30 September 2025. The approval follows Nu’s regulatory track record in Latin America. Nu Mexico received authorisation from the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores in April 2025, and Nu Brazil has operated as a regulated bank since 2016.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mangpor2004 via Freepik The post Nu Cleared for US Bank Launch by OCC appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin have been raided by officials as part of a money laundering inquiry. According to the BBC, the Office of the Federal Prosecutor said it was investigating “unknown individuals and employees” at Germany’s largest bank. The probe involves the Federal Criminal Police Office. The prosecutor said Deutsche Bank had previously conducted business with foreign companies that investigators suspect were used for money laundering. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson confirmed that searches had taken place at its premises. “No further information can be provided regarding the background of the business relationships, the transactions processed through Deutsche Bank AG, their scope, or the companies themselves,” the prosecutor’s office said. German media reports have suggested possible links to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. His lawyers describe these claims as “entirely false and inaccurate”. A legal representative told the BBC that Abramovich has “no connection” to the raids. They added: “The searches conducted this week relate solely to Deutsche Bank’s alleged failure to comply with statutory reporting obligations under Germany’s anti-money laundering framework. They have nothing to do with Abramovich, whose name was only used as a way to draw media attention to the investigation. This is unacceptable and Abramovich reserves all his rights in the matter.” Abramovich, sanctioned by the UK and EU in March 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, made his fortune in oil and gas. Authorities allege that he has strong ties to President Vladimir Putin, which he denies. This is not Deutsche Bank’s first raid. Authorities searched Deutsche Bank’s Frankfurt headquarters and five other offices in 2018 during a money laundering investigation. That probe focused on activities between 2013 and early 2018. Authorities examined whether staff helped clients set up offshore accounts to “transfer money from criminal activities.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra via Unsplash The post Deutsche Bank Raided in German Money Laundering Probe appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

AI’s been reshaping financial services for several years now. But as its digital adoption accelerates, one factor determines whether AI extracts value or adds complexity: choosing the right partners for specialised applications. According to McKinsey, while AI tools are now widespread, most organisations have not embedded them deeply into their workflows, limiting their ability to generate impact at the enterprise level. The right AI fit has the capability to unlock something powerful, like transforming financial systems into agile, high-performance engines that respond as instantly as a digital-native platform. On the flip side, AI trained on flawed data and assumptions festers old problems, snowballing inefficiencies into systemic risk rather than eliminating them. The real challenge, therefore, lies in the incentives behind AI, and the partnerships that shape how AI is designed, trained, and deployed across financial systems. It is at this intersection that Huawei created the Huawei RONGHAI Financial Partner Program. Designed to bridge foundational infrastructure with specialised financial applications, the program has grown to more than 150 partners worldwide. Roger Wang, the Director of the Partner Development Department at Huawei Digital Finance BU, and Wizard He, the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Netis Technologies, sat down with Fintech News Network’s Chief Editor, Vincent Fong, to unravel how the Huawei RONGHAI Financial Partner Program is enabling AI-infused finance applications that are innovative, stable, and scalable in production. Cultivating the Power of Chemistry Through Partnerships The traditional vendor-client relationship is evolving. Huawei is cultivating what Roger Wang, Director of Partner Development at Huawei’s Digital Finance BU, refers to as an ecosystem where value is created by the “chemistry” between its partners. @fintechnewsnetwork Huawei’s RongHai is a game changer for digital finance and AI @Huawei #fintech #AI #digitalfinance #fyp #Banking ♬ original sound – Fintech News Network – Fintech News Network The idea of the RONGHAI program spawned from a hard reality check. Despite being a large company with substantial experience accumulated over the past decade, Roger shares that it was not enough to deliver digital transformation in its entirety. He explained, Roger Wang “We came to realise that we need to build an ecosystem with a lot of excellent technology partners, so we can build end-to-end capabilities throughout the digital transformation journey that shortens the time and effort that our customers need to spend.” That urgency is driven by how quickly financial services are changing. Traditionally, banks could afford to spend years modernising core systems. That timeline no longer matches how fast customer behaviour, competition, and business models are evolving. From a CEO’s perspective, waiting for years is no longer acceptable nor feasible today. Source: Huawei Through close collaboration between Huawei and its technology partners, those timelines have been dramatically compressed. Roger shares, “In the Philippines, we did a whole banking transformation in less than 10 months. This gave us the inspiration that core banking is just a corner of digital transformation, and we needed to build all of these capabilities. It gave us the idea to launch a new program (RONGHAI), attracting competent partners to work with us, and then supporting our customers in a different way.” Why Specialised Partnerships Will Define the Future of Banking For Wizard He, an AI expert with over two decades of experience under his belt, the value of the RONGHAI program lies in its ability to provide end-to-end solutions to banking customers. Netis, as a partner, does comprehensive AI visibility for banks. Having worked with Huawei across multiple markets, Wizard describes RONGHAI as an operating model that allows banks to move faster without sacrificing stability. One of Netis’ earliest engagements under this model began in Singapore. A leading bank embarked on a digital transformation initiative, codenamed “Gandalf”. The objective was to learn from digital-native technology leaders (think Google, Amazon, Netflix and the like) and translate that agility into a regulated banking environment. In that journey, Wizard explained, Netis and Huawei collaborated closely to ensure there were no surprises. Huawei anchored the transformation with a stable technology foundation, while Netis focused on delivering agility at the application layer. Wizard He “Huawei also has a huge global expansion network. They connect to different continents and leverage this network as the owner and member of RONGHAI.” Crucially, Wizard emphasised that the strength of the RONGHAI program lies in how specialised partners come together as a system rather than operating in silos. In core banking projects, for example, Huawei works alongside core banking vendors and software partners to deliver transformation, agility and resilience, all at the same time. “It’s like a triangle,” Wizard explained. “Huawei has different product portfolios. They have ICT infrastructures, computing, storage network, Huawei cloud and the GPU. So if you work with Huawei, problems, especially related to technology, can be solved.” Huawei’s dedicated partner management model further accelerates this process, enabling partners to understand the strengths of all the technologies, deploy faster, and scale with confidence. Wizard shares his benefits as a partner to the program: “We collaborated with Huawei and extended to five different continents, and shared our experience from one to many.” How Huawei Curated 150+ High-Performance Partnerships With more than 150 companies already onboard, the RONGHAI ecosystem is intentionally selective. Roger explains that what matters most is how well partners can contribute to a coherent and high-performing ecosystem. As more partners come together, new synergies begin to emerge organically. Maintaining quality and consistency at scale, however, requires discipline. Entry into the program is therefore guided by three core criteria. “We need to see how creative that partner is in terms of technology, applications and real use cases they create. The second (criterion) is about speed, on how quickly you can evolve your product based on a specific customer.” The third criterion is platform readiness. Huawei remains deeply committed to its infrastructure layer, and partners must, in turn, be able to deploy their applications efficiently on that foundation. By ensuring partners can land solutions quickly and scale them across markets, RONGHAI turns collaboration from a loose network into a governed ecosystem capable of delivering enterprise-grade AI adoption at scale. Watch as Roger Wang and Wizard He talk about why scaling AI in finance requires curated partnerships, execution, and ecosystem design. Catch the full conversation on how the Huawei RONGHAI program is shaping the future of AI-infused finance below. Featured image by Fintech News Singapore The post Scaling AI in Finance Starts With Trust, Infrastructure and Execution. Huawei Shows How appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Die Hochschule Luzern (HSLU) hat zum zweiten Mal den Kantonalen Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) erstellt, neu zusammen mit dem Eidgenössischen Institut für Geistiges Eigentum. Erstmals können Grossregionen miteinander verglichen werden, und jeder Kanton wird in einem übersichtlichen Profil einzeln dargestellt. Die Schweiz belegt bei internationalen Kreativitäts- und Innovationsrankings regelmässig Spitzenplätze. Doch wie sieht es innerhalb des Landes bei den einzelnen Kantonen aus? Der Kantonale Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) liefert in einem umfassenden Ranking Antworten auf diese Frage und kann unter www.kiki-icic.ch heruntergeladen werden. Rangliste der Grossregionen Breit abgestützte Methodik Der KIKI orientiert sich am Global Innovation Index (GII) und besteht aus unterschiedlichen Indikatoren, die in «Input» und «Output» gruppiert werden. Inputfaktoren sind solche, welche Innovation und Kreativität begünstigen, während Outputfaktoren die Wirkung von Innovation und Kreativität messen (weitere Details siehe Kasten). Als Datenquellen dienen unter anderem das Eidgenössische Institut für Geistiges Eigentum (IGE), das Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS), die Eidgenössische Finanzverwaltung (EFV), die Innovationsagentur des Bundes Innosuisse und die OECD. Kanton Zug erneut Spitzenreiter Rangliste der Kantone Wie in der ersten Ausgabe des KIKI 2025 dominieren auch in der zweiten die Kantone Zug, Basel-Stadt und Zürich die drei vorderen Ränge. Während Zug seine Spitzenposition durch exzellente Werte bei Unternehmensgründungen, Wirtschaftswachstum und unterstützenden Faktoren (u.a. Steueranreize) festigt, besticht Basel-Stadt durch eine herausragende Performance als Kulturmetropole und ist Vorreiter in puncto Diversität. Zürich wiederum überzeugt als ausgeglichener «Allrounder» mit sehr soliden Werten über fast alle Dimensionen hinweg. «Die drei erstplatzierten Kantone tauchen auch in anderen Wirtschaftsrankings ganz vorne auf, was an sich nicht überrascht: Innovationsfähigkeit ist gerade in der Schweiz ein entscheidender Treiber für den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg», sagt Christoph Hauser, Ökonom an der HSLU und Studienautor. Zentralschweiz stark in der Technologie Bern (Platz 20) erreicht bei Forschung, Entwicklung und Wissen ein Niveau auf Augenhöhe mit den Spitzenreitern. In der Nordwestschweiz glänzen neben den beiden Basel (Basel-Stadt auf Platz 2; Basel Landschaft auf Platz 18) auch der Aargau (Platz 19) und Solothurn (Platz 24) mit wettbewerbsfördernden, unterstützenden Faktoren. Und alle haben im Vorjahresvergleich beim Wirtschaftswachstum zugelegt, ausser Basel-Stadt. Die Zentralschweiz präsentiert sich als Technologie-Region: Nidwalden (Platz 12) erreicht knapp vor Zug dank globaler Industrie-Leuchttürme den ersten Rang bei Patenten, Marken und Designs. Luzern (Platz 15) verbucht dank verbesserter steuerlicher Rahmenbedingungen (Patentbox) deutliche Gewinne im Bereich Umfeld und gehört bei Bildung und Bildungserfolg zu den Besten. Obwalden (Platz 14) überzeugt mit einer hohen Forschungsintensität. Schwyz (Platz 9) punktet beim Umfeld und bei Unternehmen und Start-ups stark, auch dank exzellenter steuerlicher Rahmenbedingungen. Uri (Platz 26) beweist mit einer hohen Gründungsdynamik, dass unternehmerische Vitalität keine Frage der Grösse ist. «Kleine Kantone können mit ihrem eigenen Charakter oder einer Nischenstrategie ebenfalls erfolgreich sein. Uri zum Beispiel positioniert sich mit seiner Agilität und der Lage an der Nord-Süd-Achse», so Christoph Hauser. Jura macht grossen Sprung In der Romandie überzeugen Genf (Platz 4) und Waadt (Platz 6) mit einem innovationsfreundlichen Umfeld und hoher Start-up-Dynamik. Neuenburg (Platz 5) bestätigt seine historische Stärke als «Watch Valley» und gehört bei Patenten, Marken und Designs schweizweit zur Spitze. Der Jura (Platz 10) konnte sich insgesamt deutlich verbessern und profitiert ebenfalls von einer hohen Dichte an Patenten. «Jura konnte gleich bei drei von acht Säulen deutlich zulegen. Bei Patenten, Marken und Designs, bei Unternehmen und Start-ups sowie beim Wirtschaftswachstum zeigen die letzten Daten deutlich bessere Werte als noch vor einem Jahr», sagt Christoph Hauser. Freiburg (Platz 22) und das Wallis (Platz 16) konnten insbesondere im Bereich Wissen und Bildung wichtige Fortschritte erzielen. Graubünden punktet bei der Diversität Das Tessin liegt insgesamt auf dem siebten Rang, was auch seiner Dynamik im Wirtschaftswachstum zu verdanken ist, bei dem der Südkanton den zweiten Rang belegt. Gleich danach auf Rang acht überzeugt Schaffhausen mit einem breit abgestützten Profil und starken Verbesserungen bei Patenten, Marken und Designs. Der Thurgau (Platz 23) wächst solide und hat gute Werte bei der Bildung, während St. Gallen (Platz 17) zusätzlich als Forschungsstandort punktet und im Bereich Wissen den siebten Rang belegt. Graubünden (Platz 13) konnte seine Position im Ranking verbessern und punktet bei Diversität und Bildung. Glarus (Platz 25) konnte bei Wissen und Kreation zulegen, während die beiden Appenzell ihre Nischen finden: Appenzell Innerrhoden (Platz 11) überzeugt mit hohen Werten bei unterstützenden Faktoren und Patenten, Marken und Designs, während Appenzell Ausserrhoden (Platz 21) eine solide Basis in Bildung, Wissen und unterstützenden Faktoren zeigt. Bei den Grossregionen liegt Zürich vorne Der KIKI 2026 geografisch abgebildet Neu wurden dieses Jahr auch Grossregionen miteinander verglichen: Die Region Zürich, die einwohnerstärkste Grossregion der Schweiz, steht an erster Stelle, gefolgt von der Genferseeregion, dem Tessin und der Zentralschweiz. Die Nordwestschweiz liegt dicht dahinter, während die Ostschweiz und der Espace Mittelland deutlicher auf den hinteren Plätzen liegen. Christoph Hauser erklärt das überraschend gute Abschneiden des Südkantons: «Das Tessin zeigt sich bei Wirtschaftswachstum, Unternehmen und Start-ups dynamisch und überholt dadurch die in sich verschiedenen Regionen Zentralschweiz und Nordwestschweiz.» Insgesamt zeichnet der KIKI ein differenziertes Bild der Schweizer Innovationslandschaft: Jeder Kanton beziehungsweise jede Region hat unterschiedliche Stärken und weist Besonderheiten auf. Diese haben vielfältige Ursachen, etwa günstige geografische Rahmenbedingungen oder weitsichtige politische Entscheidungen in der Vergangenheit. «Der KIKI leistet mehr als eine blosse Bestandsaufnahme: Indem er die Vielschichtigkeit von Innovation und Kreativität aufschlüsselt, liefert er den Kantonen konkrete Ansatzpunkte für ihre Entwicklungsstrategien», sagt Christoph Hauser. Damit die Schweiz auch in Zukunft als innovativstes Land der Welt gilt, ist laut Hauser jeder Kanton gefordert, seine spezifischen Stärken zu nutzen und Beiträge zum nationalen Innovationssystem zu leisten. Die Säulen des Kantonalen Innovations- und Kreativitätsindex (KIKI) Der Kanton Zug im Vergleich der acht Säulen Auf globaler Ebene existiert mit dem Global Innovation Index (GII) bereits seit einigen Jahren ein vergleichbarer Index zum KIKI. Die Schweiz belegt im GII seit über 10 Jahren Platz eins. Der KIKI orientiert sich am GII und besteht aus unterschiedlichen Indikatoren, die in «Input» und «Output» gruppiert werden. Inputfaktoren sind solche, welche Innovation und Kreativität begünstigen, während Outputfaktoren die Wirkung von Innovation und Kreativität messen. Beide Dimensionen enthalten je zwei Untergruppen, nämlich Wissen und Umfeld (Input) sowie Kreation und Wachstum (Output). Diese wiederum enthalten je zwei, also insgesamt acht Säulen (Bildung und Bildungserfolg; Forschung, Entwicklung und Wissen; Diversität; Unterstützende Faktoren; Kunst und Kultur; Patente, Marken und Designs; Unternehmen und Start-ups; Wirtschaftswachstum). Jede Säule berücksichtigt zwischen 8 und 20 Einzelindikatoren, welche schliesslich innerhalb der Säule gleich gewichtet sind. Die Säulen entsprechen wichtigen, in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur bestätigten Input- resp. Outputfaktoren für Innovation und Kreativität. Die KIKI-Studie kann auf der Website http://www.kiki-icic.ch heruntergeladen werden. Dort sind auch die einzelnen Profile der Kantone zu finden.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by iwana.ioana via Freepik The post Kantonaler Innovations-und Kreativitätsindex: Welche Kantone sind innovativ? appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nordic challenger bank Lunar has announced a €46 million capital increase to expand its business banking, develop its lending offerings, and support growth across the Nordics. The funding round, led by a combination of existing and new investors, will support Lunar’s expansion into Norway and Finland, alongside scaling its business banking and lending operations. Lunar aims to grow while pursuing profitability in 2026. Ken Villum Klausen “The new capital allows us to continue scaling what already works for consumer and business banking while increasing our footprint across the Nordics. We’ve already come a long way, but we are focused on unlocking a significantly larger opportunity for Lunar while reaching profitability in 2026,” said Ken Villum Klausen, founder and CEO of Lunar. The round attracted interest from existing investors, including Heartland and Orbit Alliance, and introduces 100A, a London-based fintech investor focused on Series A and later-stage funding. Klausen said the backing from existing investors “means a great deal” and that the new investor shows renewed market confidence. Lunar currently serves over one million users in the Nordics, with a growing share opting for paid products. Its banking licence and proprietary infrastructure also support Moonrise, its payments and banking services platform, positioning the company to expand beyond consumer and SME banking.     Featured image credit: Lunar The post Lunar Raises €46 Million to Expand Nordic Banking and Lending appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU. The company also confirmed plans to establish its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria. This move is part of preparations to operate under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The regulation aims to standardise governance, user protection, and operational resilience across the sector. Stauber brings extensive regulatory, legal, and executive experience in digital assets and financial services. He was previously Managing Director and CEO of KuCoin EU in Vienna. He also held senior roles including Chief Legal Officer at Bitpanda. There, he oversaw legal, regulatory, and compliance functions, as well as licensing and supervisory engagement across multiple jurisdictions. Stauber said, Oliver Stauber “MiCAR is resetting expectations for how digital-asset services are governed in Europe. This covers risk controls, disclosures, and operational discipline. Our HQ in Vienna will build a regulated, scalable setup. It will serve EEA users reliably by offering secure and efficient digital transactions. The platform will be supported by robust risk controls, transparent operations, and a strong commitment to user protection and regulatory standards.” The Austrian headquarters will focus on regulatory engagement, internal controls, and compliance across the European Economic Area. It will prioritise operational transparency and alignment with evolving supervisory standards.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by FestArt via Freepik The post Bitget Appoints Oliver Stauber as CEO for New EU Headquarters in Vienna appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

OKX has launched the OKX Card in Europe, enabling users to pay with stablecoins at any merchant that accepts Mastercard. Unlike traditional crypto cards that require preloading or conversions, the OKX Card converts stablecoins at the point of purchase and offers instant crypto rewards of up to 20% on eligible transactions. The card operates on onchain self-custody, meaning stablecoins remain in the user’s wallet until the moment of payment. Users can spend via mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, in-store or online, with zero transaction or foreign exchange fees, and a market spread of 0.4% when converting to Euro. Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe, said: Erald Ghoos “With OKX Card, we’re making it simple for anyone in Europe to use crypto for real-world purchases, instantly, securely, and transparently. Crypto was originally conceived as a means of payment and with OKX Card our users can turn this vision into reality.” Users earn crypto rewards instantly, with VIP rewards offering up to 20% back and regular rewards up to 15% for 30-day periods.       Featured image credit: OKX The post OKX Rolls Out European Card for Direct Stablecoin Payments appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut has officially ended its Beta phase in Mexico, launching full banking operations through Revolut Bank S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple. This is its first bank outside Europe and brings Revolut’s presence to 40 countries. The bank obtained a Mexican banking license independently and capitalised its operations with over US$100 million, more than double the regulatory minimum. This gives a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 447.2% at launch. Revolut Bank has received strong initial credit ratings. HR Ratings assigned long-term ratings of HR AAA and short-term ratings of HR+1. S&P National Ratings gave long-term issuer ratings of ‘mxA+’ and short-term ratings of ‘mxA-1’. All ratings have a Stable Outlook. They reflect confidence in the bank’s capital strength, liquidity, and the backing of Revolut Group. Nik Storonsky, Revolut’s co-founder and CEO, said, Nikolay Storonsky “Revolut’s technology will empower millions across Mexico with better financial tools. This launch is a blueprint for expansion into other high-growth markets. We are confident in replicating this success on our journey to reach over 100 million daily active customers in 100 countries.” The bank offers savings accounts with competitive yields, borderless spending in over 30 currencies, low-cost international transfers, bill payments, and joint accounts for shared expenses. Family accounts for children aged 6-17 will be launched soon. Additional features include premium subscription plans, gift cards, and rewards redeemable for travel or shopping.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by Kajikom via Freepik The post Revolut Launches Full Banking Operations in Mexico appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

FiveT Fintech has appointed Mathias Brenner and Tobias Haeckermann as Growth Partners. The pair co-founded Sherpany, a meeting management platform that grew to serve over 450 enterprise clients, including Raiffeisen, Zurich Insurance, and Julius Baer, before its acquisition by Datasite in 2024. In their new roles, Brenner and Haeckermann will work directly with FiveT Fintech’s portfolio companies, primarily B2B software businesses serving financial services, to support growth, refine go-to-market strategies, and scale operations. The appointments coincide with the firm’s second fund, which targets Series A and later-stage companies developing software for financial services and related enterprise sectors. FiveT Fintech’s approach leverages relationships with Swiss and European financial institutions to validate market demand prior to investment and focuses on off-market opportunities, including secondaries and carve-outs. FiveT Fintech’s first fund, launched in 2020, has returned more than two-thirds of capital to investors through exits including Metaco (acquired by Ripple) and Assetmax (acquired by Infront), placing it among the top-performing venture capital funds globally. Mathias Brenner “FiveT Fintech’s demand-validation model means these companies already have traction with tier-one enterprises,” said Brenner. Tobias Haeckermann “Our role is helping them execute the playbook to scale efficiently.” Haeckermann added: “At Sherpany, we’ve seen the common pitfalls of scaling in financial services: inefficient procurement processes, difficult sales and implementation cycles, complex pricing models. Our focus is helping management teams navigate these specific challenges as they expand across European markets.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by lifeforstock via Freepik The post Mathias Brenner and Tobias Haeckermann Join FiveT Fintech as Growth Partners appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Checkout.com has partnered with Freenow by Lyft, the European taxi app, to manage digital payments across nine European markets. Freenow operates in over 180 cities in Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece, Austria, and Ireland, offering taxis, private hire vehicles, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, carsharing, and public transport through a single app. Freenow selected Checkout.com for its acquiring technology, ease of integration, and expertise in local payment systems. The partnership covers payment processing across all Freenow’s European markets and provides access to AI-driven transaction insights. These analytics help identify authorisation patterns, optimise payment performance, and improve reliability for millions of users. Checkout.com has also supported Freenow’s post-paid payment model, where payment is taken after a journey. The process can be complex, particularly when initial payment attempts fail. Checkout.com introduced digital wallet options and smarter retry mechanisms to improve collection efficiency and enhance the customer experience. Chris von Rumohr “For Freenow, empowering users with effortless mobility means providing a payment experience that is inherently seamless and dependable,” said Chris von Rumohr, Vice President of Product & Engineering Fintech at Freenow by Lyft. “We chose Checkout.com for its AI-driven optimisations, high payment performance and strong local payment processing capabilities across Europe. The team took the time to understand the unique challenges of operating in the enterprise mobility market and delivered solutions that fit our needs exactly.” Antoine Nougué “Freenow by Lyft is a leader in the European taxi and mobility market, and we’re proud to partner with them as they continue to scale across Europe,” said Antoine Nougué, Chief Revenue Officer at Checkout.com. “Payments serve as a critical backbone for delivering smooth, reliable passenger experiences. By strengthening the resilience of Freenow’s payment flows and supporting complex post-paid journey models, we’re helping power their growth in the mobility ecosystem.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by mkmult via Freepik The post Checkout.com to Handle Payments for Freenow Across Nine European Markets appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Global X ETFs Europe, a provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has announced the appointment of Gea Blumberg as Head of Business Development and Co-Head of Global X ETFs Europe. She will work alongside George Taylor, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Head of Global X ETFs Europe. Blumberg and Taylor will jointly shape the company’s strategic direction, with a focus on addressing the needs of both existing and prospective clients. In her role, Blumberg will oversee client-facing teams across sales, marketing, communications and investment strategy. She will be based in Germany. Global X ETFs Europe reported significant growth over the past year, with assets under management increasing from approximately US$2 billion to more than US$7 billion as of January 2026. The appointment comes amid rising demand from both institutional and retail investors. Gea Blumberg “Since entering the European market in 2020, Global X ETFs has introduced a range of distinctive solutions for European investors and established itself as a recognised participant in the European ETF market,” Blumberg said. “I am pleased to be joining Global X at this stage and to be part of the team supporting the next phase of the company’s development.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by masaideeabdulkoday70 via Freepik The post Global X ETFs Europe Appoints Gea Blumberg as Head of Business Development and Co-Head appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

NCR Atleos has appointed Rohan Pal as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Pal has more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership and digital transformation, with a background in IT modernisation, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure and digital product development. His appointment comes as Atleos continues to focus on service delivery, automation and growth. Before joining Atleos, Pal was Chief Technology Officer at WillScot, where he led changes to the company’s technology strategy, including the use of AI to improve operations. He previously served as Chief Transformation Officer at ServiceNow, advising customers and boards on digital transformation initiatives. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles across fintech, manufacturing and product transformation at organisations including Brinks, Tyco, HD Supply and Home Depot. Rohan Pal “I am joining Atleos at a pivotal time,” Pal said. “I look forward to working with the team to advance digital transformation and support our customers’ needs.” Pal holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, a Master’s degree in Supply Chain Strategy from Georgia Tech, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from St. Mary’s University and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Trinity University.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by noob via Freepik The post NCR Atleos Appoints Rohan Pal as Chief Information Officer appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

McLaren Racing has entered a multi-year partnership with Hedera Foundation to use the Hedera public network for decentralised applications. Hedera will be an Official Partner of both the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team. The collaboration will connect racing operations with Web3 infrastructure, providing fans with digital experiences and officially licensed activations. McLaren Racing’s first initiative on Hedera will be a digital collectibles programme, with free-to-claim items released during F1 Grand Prix weekends. Arrow McLaren IndyCar digital collectibles will also return for the 2026 season, including experiences, prizes, and incentives for fans. Hedera branding will appear on McLaren’s Formula 1 car and driver race suits, as well as the No. 6 and No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolets and team kit. Nick Martin, Co-Chief Commercial Officer at McLaren Racing, said: Nick Martin “Innovation off the track is just as important as performance on it. Partnering with Hedera allows us to deliver Web3 experiences for our fans. We’re excited to welcome Hedera to the McLaren family as we continue to push boundaries on and off the track.”     Featured image credit: McLaren Racing The post McLaren Racing Partners with Hedera Foundation for Web3 Initiatives appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The Canton of St. Gallen has launched a new online portal, Startup-Guide, to simplify and digitalise company formation and related processes. Business founders can now complete company registrations and commercial register updates entirely online. Free tools and advisory services are also available to support planning. The portal provides resources for developing and reviewing business models and preparing business plans. It includes templates, examples, and practical guidance. Users can also access information on the cantonal startup ecosystem and relevant events. At the centre of Startup-Guide is a digital formation service. Founders can complete all key steps of company registration online. The service prepares all required documents in line with legal requirements. Users sign them digitally, and the system submits them directly to the commercial register. This removes the need to visit a notary or municipal office. Existing companies can also manage commercial register updates online. “The Startup-Guide marks an important step in implementing St. Gallen’s startup support strategy,” said the cantonal government. The portal was developed and is maintained by the IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen. It complements the cantonal startup advisory offices in Buchs, Rapperswil-Jona, and St. Gallen. The government sees the digital service as part of broader efforts to improve the canton’s innovation and business environment. In parallel, the Office for Commercial Registers and Notaries, together with SECO and the cantons of Lucerne and Zurich, is developing a portal for all commercial register services. St. Gallen aims to position itself as an innovation hub linking education, research, and industry. Other initiatives include advancing SME innovation support, establishing a new vocational and continuing education centre in Rapperswil-Jona, constructing Campus Platztor for University of St. Gallen students, and creating a joint professorship with ETH Zurich and Empa.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post St. Gallen Launches Digital Portal for Company Formation appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

The partnership between Yuh and BSC Young Boys (YB) will be expanded from the 2026/27 season, with Yuh becoming the main shirt sponsor of YB’s first men’s team in domestic competitions. In international competitions, the shirt sponsorship will be carried by Yuh’s parent company, Swissquote. The move builds on the existing relationship between the two organisations. Since May 2025, Yuh has been a premium partner of the YB women’s team. Jan De Schepper “We are pleased to expand our existing partnership with YB,” said Jan De Schepper, CEO of Yuh. “YB stands for ambition, continuity and a strong connection with its supporters, values that also guide Yuh as a company. This commitment reflects our support for Swiss football and the YB organisation.” YB Chairman of the Board Marcel Brülhart said the partnership aligns with the club’s long-term objectives. Marcel Brülhart “Our goal is to continue developing YB across all areas and to be well prepared for the future. The collaboration with Yuh as our new main partner fits well with this direction. Yuh’s long-term commitment is an important sign of trust.” Further joint activities involving Yuh users and the YB fan community are planned as part of the partnership.     Featured image credit: Yuh The post Yuh Becomes Main Partner of BSC Young Boys Men’s Team appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UBS is planning to make cryptocurrency investing available to some private banking clients, a move that would mark a notable shift into digital assets for one of the world’s largest wealth managers. The Swiss banking group, which oversaw about US$4.7 trillion in wealth assets as of Sept 30, is in the process of selecting partners for a potential crypto offering, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Discussions have been ongoing for several months, and UBS has not yet made a final decision. UBS is expected to initially allow select private banking clients in Switzerland to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether, before potentially expanding the offering to Asia Pacific markets and the US. Offering direct access to cryptocurrencies would represent a change in stance for UBS, which has historically been cautious on digital tokens. The shift comes as peers such as JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley expand their crypto-related services following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, increasing competitive pressure across global wealth management. “As part of UBS’s digital asset strategy, we actively monitor developments and explore initiatives that reflect client needs, regulatory developments, market trends and robust risk controls,” a UBS spokesperson said. “We recognise the importance of distributed ledger technology like blockchain, which underpins digital assets.” Until now, UBS has focused its digital asset efforts on blockchain-based infrastructure, including tokenised funds and payments, rather than crypto trading. Like other global banks, strict capital requirements under the Basel III framework have constrained UBS. UBS has previously allowed wealthy clients in Hong Kong to trade crypto-linked exchange-traded funds and continues to assess broader opportunities as institutional involvement in digital assets grows.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by jofreepik via Freepik The post UBS Plans Crypto Trading for Select Private Banking Clients appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nu has entered a multi-year partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, becoming an Official Team Partner ahead of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season. The partnership offers Nu a platform to reach a global audience of over 827 million Formula One fans, with particular focus on Latin America, the US and other strategic markets. It aligns with Nu’s long-term growth strategy, supporting engagement in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, countries with strong F1 followings. Founded in 2013, Nu serves over 127 million customers worldwide, challenging traditional banking with a digital-first approach and AI-driven technology. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, one of the sport’s most successful teams, has won eight Constructors’ and nine Drivers’ World Championships. The partnership will include on- and off-track branding and fan activations, featuring drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as well as CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff. Cristina Junqueira “F1 is one of the few truly global fan platforms, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team is a defining force in the sport,” said Cristina Junqueira, co-Founder, Chief Growth Officer and CEO of Nu’s emerging US business. “This partnership gives us a powerful opportunity to connect with hundreds of millions of fans. There is much more to come.” Toto Wolff “Innovation and disruption is at the heart of everything we do and our partnership with Nu reflects those joint values,” said Wolff. “We have a shared commitment to pushing boundaries and finding smarter, more efficient ways to perform.”     Featured image credit: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 The post Nu Joins Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team as Official Partner appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

With more than 1,600 fintech companies, among which some of the sector’s most successful and valuable ventures, London is one of the largest and most prominent fintech hubs globally. This burgeoning fintech ecosystem has made the city a premier destination for fintech events, attracting industry leaders from around the world to explore opportunities and address emerging challenges. Among the many conferences scheduled in the coming months, the following 14 stand out as the most significant gatherings in the first half of 2026. These events are expected to bring together top decision-makers, regulators, and innovators to shape the future of the sector and foster collaboration.   Top Fintech Events to Attend in London in H1 2026 TechEx Global February 04-05, 2026 Olympia, London, United Kingdom TechEx Global will take place on February 04 and 05, 2026, at Olympia in London. It is an international technology conference designed for senior technology leaders, including CIOs, CTOs, IT directors, enterprise architects, and other decision-makers from large enterprises and the public sector. The event will provide a strategic overview of key technology areas such as AI, cyber security, the Internet of Things (IoT), data infrastructure, and digital transformation. Participants will get to understand current and emerging trends, identify priorities, reduce risk in transformation initiatives, and make informed decisions about their technology roadmaps. TechEx Global will bring together multiple technology-focused conferences under one umbrella. With a single ticket, attendees can access seven co-located events covering AI and big data, digital transformation, data centers, and intelligent automation. The event is expected to welcome around 8,000 attendees, feature more than 200 speakers, and host over 150 exhibitors. Confirmed speakers in 2026 include: Daria Catalui, CISO, Allianz Rod Evans, EMEA VP, Supercomputing & AI, NVIDIA Paul Watts, CISO, Keyword Studios Dr Anne Meckbach, Chief Compliance Officer, BestSecret Group Paul Yates, CIO, ING Andrea Willem, Chief Global Data Protection Officer, Portobello Group Patty O’Callaghan, Technical Director, Head of AI (Architecture and Engineering Group), Charles River Laboratories Eric Bobek, Global Director Analytics, Just Eat Takeaway.com Fabrizio Degni, Chief of AI, Webuild Anca Lordanescu, VP Engineering, Store of the Future, IKEA Sebastian Raaff, AI and Innovation Change Director, Novartis Konstantina Kapetanidi, VP, Global Data Solutions & Head of Data Science, Europe, Visa Monika Kashyap, Head of Decisioning, Customer Lifecycle, CMB, HSBC Daniel Cuthbert, Global Head of Research, Santander Andrei Muraru, Head of Automation, Superbet Alex Gomez, VP, Global Head of IT Security, Risk and Compliance, Adecco Group Amrutha Saseendran, GenAI Tech Lead, AstraZeneca Dr Nikos Papapesios, Associate, Head of Innovation Analytics, Knight Frank Rogin Robert, Senior Solutions Engineering Manager, Forvis Mazars Group Ahmed Elahi, Senior Director of AI & Technology Transformation, SkyShowtime Divyansh Saxena, VP of AI & Data, HomeServe EMEA Pedro Fonseca, Head of Cloud Center of Excellence, Saint-Gobain Finovate Europe 2026 February 10-11, 2026 InterContinental O2, London, United Kingdom Finovate Europe 2026 will take place on February 10 and 11, 2026, at the InterContinental O2 in London. It is a leading European fintech conference focused on showcasing market-ready innovations, facilitating executive-level networking, and providing practical insights into the future of financial services. The event brings together senior banking leaders, investors, fintech innovators, and technology providers to explore how financial services are evolving. Finovate Europe is designed for decision-makers who are directly involved in transformation, partnerships, and technology adoption within banks and financial institutions. The 2026 edition is expected to welcome more than 1,000 senior-level attendees, including over 500 participants from banks, investors, and financial institutions. The program will feature more than 100 speakers, over 30 live product demonstrations, and thousands of one-to-one and small-group meetings across the two days. The conference program will span eight stages over two days, delivering insights into digital transformation, technology adoption, customer experience, and revenue growth. It will cover a broad range of fintech themes through keynote presentations, expert panels, and interactive demos. Key topics will include customer experience and personalization, embedded finance, AI, payments, open banking, fraud prevention and security, lending, digital banking, wealth management and investing, cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) and small business banking, and financial inclusion. Confirmed speakers include: Ishtiaq M Ahmed, Senior Product Manager, Emerging Tech, Innovation & Ventures, HSBC; Michelle Rockson, Senior People Partner, Starling Bank; Victor Alexiev, Global Head Venture Investments and Partnerships, Citi; Suraya Randawa, Head of Omnichannel Experience, Curinos; Thea Loch, Head of Strategic Planning, Lloyds Banking Group; and Matthijs van Voorst, Director Strategic Partnerships, ABN AMRO. New for 2026, Finovate Europe will introduce Impact+: the Funders and Founders Spotlight. This dedicated session will connect early-stage fintech founders with leading investors through startup pitches and investor-led discussions to support innovation and foster direct engagement. MoneyLIVE Summit 2026 March 09-10, 2026 Business Design Centre, London, United Kingdom MoneyLIVE Summit 2026 will take place on March 09 and 10, 2026 at the Business Design Centre in London. It is a leading international conference focused on the future of banking and payments, bringing together senior executives and decision-makers from across the financial services ecosystem. Hosted in London, MoneyLIVE Summit positions itself as a key forum for setting strategic direction in banking, payments, and financial innovation. The event is designed to unite established financial institutions, technology providers, regulators, investors, and fintech startups to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. The 2026 edition will cover a wide range of strategic and operational topics relevant to banking and payments leaders. Day one will focus on long-term strategy, innovation, and transformation, which key themes including future banking strategies, intelligent customer experience, next-generation payments, digital identity and authentication, core banking and data transformation, climate and sustainability challenges, and the evolution of customer journeys and propositions. Day two will examine competitive pressures and regulatory and structural change in the sector, addressing topics including responding to digital challengers, FIDA and open finance, commercial payments, regulatory simplification, central bank digital currencies and digital assets, and the future of building societies. MoneyLIVE Summit 2026 is expected to attract more than 2,000 attendees, with approximately 75% holding C-level, director, vice president, or head-of-function roles, and around 60% being from financial institutions. The program will feature more than 200 speakers across two days, including: Vim Maru, Chief Executive Officer, Barclays; Dr Francesca Carlesi, Chief Executive Officer, Revolut; Marnix van Stiphout, Chief Operating Officer, ING; Amit Thawani, Chief Information Officer, Lloyds Banking Group; James Reid, Central Communities, Chief Information Officer, Nationwide Building Society; William O’ Carroll, Chief Risk Officer, Handelsbanken; Bianca Zwart, Chief Strategy Officer, bunq; and Divya Bhardwaj, Chief Operating Officer, Uber Payments. CX BFSI Exchange 2026 March 16-17, 2026 Hilton Syon Park, London, United Kingdom The CX BFSI Exchange 2026 will take place on March 16 and 17, 2026, at the Hilton Syon Park in London. Now in its 15th edition, it is a premier invitation-only forum for C-level executives in customer experience (CX), operations, digital, and transformation within the financial services sector. The 2026 edition will focus on helping financial institutions leverage data, empathy, and AI to create differentiated, end-to-end customer experiences that drive loyalty and commercial outcomes. Attendees will gain access to case studies, collaborative think tanks, and personalized agendas, allowing them to benchmark strategies against the UK’s most forward-thinking institutions. Key themes and discussions at the exchange will include: Make Smarter CX ROI; Capitalizing on AI for operational and CX gains; Fraud prevention and customer trust; and Accessible finance and consumer duty. The CX BFSI Exchange 2026 is expected to host over 80 attendees, more than 25 speakers, 15 sponsors, and 150 pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings. The forum also offers sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for companies seeking to engage senior BFSI decision-makers with actionable CX solutions. FTT Lending 2026 March 18, 2026 etc.venues by Convene, County Hall, London, United Kingdom FTT Lending 2026 will take place on March 18, 2026 at etc.venues by Convene, County Hall, London. The event is designed for the next generation of lenders, fintech companies, technology innovators, and non-financial brands shaping the future of lending. FTT Lending 2026 will bring together senior executives to explore key trends, challenges, and opportunities across consumer and business lending, alternative finance, embedded lending, and the transformative impact of emerging technologies such as AI. It will examine how lenders can address the financing gap for SMEs, and ways lenders can create tailored financing solutions. Consumer-driven lending will also be a key theme, highlighting strategies to design products and experiences that respond to real customer needs, fostering trust and engagement. The forum will address green and sustainable finance, exploring how lenders can increase access to sustainable funding while managing associated risks. In addition, the conference will cover emerging ending models and technologies, including digital mortgages, buy now, pay later (BNPL) solutions, AI-driven credit scoring, and ethical collections to highlight innovation within the sector. FTT Lending 2026 will feature multiple stages designed to deliver practical insights: The FTT Lending Plenary Stage will include keynote presentations and discussions on the next frontier in lending, the explainability of AI in lending decisions, and balancing risk, regulation, and resilience; The Lending Lab Stage will cover strategies for engaging modern borrowers, the future of BNPL following regulatory changes, the digital mortgage revolution, advanced credit scoring, ethical collections, regulatory compliance, and initiatives to improve financial literacy; and The Funding Lab Stage will focus on leveraging data and AI for small business lending, exploring crypto and stablecoin applications in SME finance, supporting underrepresented founders, navigating trade finance in complex markets, and implementing sustainable lending practices. FTT Lending 2026 is expected to attract over 600 attendees, including 300 lenders and more than 120 speakers, with approximately 60% of participants identified as technology buyers. Insurtech Insights Europe 2026 March 18-19, 2026 InterContinental London, The O2, London, United Kingdom Insurtech Insights Europe 2026 will take place on March 18 and 19 2026, at the InterContinental London, The O2, in London, bringing together over 6,000 executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals from across the insurance and technology sectors. The event aims to offer a platform for learning, networking, and discovering emerging technologies that are shaping the future of insurance. Insurtech Insights Europe 2026 will provide attendees with insights into strategic and operational challenges facing the industry, helping them stay ahead of emerging trends and seize new opportunities. With six dedicated stages, sessions will address topics including regulatory compliance, technology implementation, operational efficiency, customer experience, and real-world applications of insurtech solutions. Networking will also be a central feature of the event. Attendees will get to connect with over 6,000 insurance and insurtech professionals from around the world using the conference’s networking app, which enables the pre-booking of one-to-one meetings to maximize engagement and ensure a personalized experience. They will get to meet solution providers and insurance companies to explore collaborations and commercial deals. Insurtech Insights Europe 2026 will also provide early exposure to emerging technologies. Startups and technology providers will demonstrate their solutions on stage, offering insurers the opportunity to explore cutting-edge innovations that enhance efficiency, improve operations, and accelerate adoption of new tools. CX in Financial Services Forum 2026 March 25, 2026 One America Square, 1 America Square, 17 Crosswall, London The CX in Financial Services Forum 2026, taking place on March 25, 2026, promises a premier gathering of financial services professionals focused on transforming customer experience. This forum will bring together hundreds of CX leaders, innovators, and industry experts for a full day of panel discussions, presentations, product demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Attendees will explore the latest breakthroughs in customer experience, digital engagement, and AI-powered personalization, meeting the leaders who are redefining how financial services connect with their customers. They will gain insights into the trends and innovations transforming customer experience, engage in high-level discussions, and discover new ways to strengthen customer loyalty and deliver long-term value. The 2026 agenda will include sessions on the future of CX, strategies for delivering seamless, personalized experiences in a digital-first world, balancing personalization with privacy and compliance, the use of AI and automation to enhance service while maintaining the human touch, and building unified, real-time customer insights to enable smarter decision-making. Confirmed speakers include: Ross Liston, Chief Executive Officer, M&G Wealth; Libby Denchfield, Chief Platform & Function Officer, Standard Chartered; Lindsay Thompson, Head of EMEA & APAC Client Success, BNY; Mary Burnett, Head of Customer and Analytics, Bank of Ireland; Adam Tarpey, Head of SME Lending, Starling Bank; Elena Konovalova, Head of Data Analytics, Paysend; Siddesh Samarth, Head of Data Integration Platforms, Data and Analytics, Nationwide Building Society; Ella Hugh, Director of Proposition and SX, Rathbones; and Tasneem Bhamji, Digital Engagement Director, Customer Engagement, Lloyds Banking Group. PAY360 2026 March 25-26, 2026 Hall S6, ExCeL London, London, United Kingdom PAY360 2026, scheduled on March 25 and 26, 2026, promises one of the largest and most comprehensive payments events in Europe, bringing together the entire payments ecosystem under one roof. Taking place over two days at ExCeL London, the event will welcome more than 6,000 attendees, over 200 global speakers, and 150 exhibitors from across the payments landscape. Participants will include policymakers, regulators, banks, merchants, fintech startups, big technology firms, card networks, acquirers, and processors, creating a truly end-to-end view of the industry. As an industry association-led event, PAY360 will be designed to inform, connect, and shape the future of payments. The conference will be entirely dedicated to payments, reflecting the sector’s rapid growth and the need for collaboration, innovation, and shared standards. The 2026 PAY360 conference program will feature speakers from across the global payments ecosystem, all sharing insights on one main stage. Sessions will focus on practical challenges and emerging opportunities, where ideas are translated into real-world action. Networking will be supported through AI-powered tools that will allow attendees to identify relevant contacts and arrange meetings before the event begins. The program will also include Fintechs’ Pitch Live, where emerging fintech companies will compete on stage to showcase solutions that aim to transform payments. UK Fintech Week 2026 April 20-24, 2026 United Kingdom UK Fintech Week 2026 will take place from April 20 to 24, 2026 and will bring together the full breadth of the UK and global fintech ecosystem for a week of discussion, insight, and connection. Throughout the week, fintech founders, entrepreneurs, investors, banking executives, regulators, policymakers, academics, and members of the media from around the world will convene to exchange ideas, debate key issues, and build relationships. The program will open on April 21, 2026, at the Guildhall in London with the International Fintech Global Summit (IFGS). As the flagship event of UK Fintech Week, IFGS is expected to welcome more than 1,500 attendees from over 70 countries, attracting senior leaders and innovators from across the global fintech community to examine the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Attendees will gain insight into emerging trends, evolving policies and regulation, and perspectives from fintech unicorns on the future of financial services, alongside extensive opportunities to network. On April 22, 2026, the flagship pitching competition Pitch360 in London will feature ten fintech companies presenting innovative ideas with the potential to shape the future of finance. Each company will have three minutes to pitch, after which the winner will be selected by a combination of audience participation and an expert judging panel. On April 23, 2026, the UK Fintech Academic Network Annual Conference will provide a forum for the discussion of leading academic research in fintech, bringing together researchers, finance practitioners, policymakers, and regulators to explore how academic insight can inform real-world practice and policy. Finally, UK Fintech Week 2026 will conclude on April 23, 2026, with the official closing party in London from 6:00. The event will offer attendees an opportunity to unwind, enjoy refreshments, and continue networking with participants from IFGS and across UK Fintech Week as the program draws to a close. Tech.eu Summit London 2026 April 21-22, 2026 Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London, United Kingdom The Tech.eu Summit London 2026 will take place April 21 and 22, 2026, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, bringing together leaders from the global startup and investment ecosystem. Over two days, the event will host in-depth discussions, high-level networking opportunities and collaborative sessions, placing London once again at the centre of Europe’s technology landscape. Founders, investors, senior executives, and policymakers from across Europe and international markets will participate in a program of keynote sessions, panel discussions, and curated networking. Topics will include AI, fintech, software-as-a-service (SaaS), sustainability, and emerging technologies, with an emphasis on practical insight and investment perspectives. The summit will also provide opportunities for fund managers to connect with potential limited partners, identify co-investment partners, and engage with a curated group of promising startups. A sponsorship program is available for funds and organizations seeking to raise visibility and attract new investment. Confirmed speakers for 2026 include: Agata Nowicka, Managing Partner, AI Visionaries; Ali Morrow, Partner, Clay Capital; Cecilia Ma, Investment Manager, Norrsken VC; Deepka Rana, Principal, Northzone; Hussein Kanji, Partner, Hoxton Ventures; Iwona Biernat, Policy Advocate & Legal Strategist, EU-Inc Petition; Jessica Lennard, Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer, Competition and Markets Authority; Joel Udden, Principal, Ventech; Laura Modiano, Head of Startups EMEA, OpenAI; Laura Waldenstrom, Principal, Earlybird; Malin Posern, Partner, Project A Ventures; Maren Bannon, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, January Ventures; and Max Ohrstrand, Partner, SoftBank Investment Advisers. Digital Money Summit 2026 May 19-20, 2026 116 Pall Mall, St James’s, London, United Kingdom The Digital Money Summit 2026 will take place on May 19 and 20, 2026 at 116 Pall Mall in St James’s, London. This in-person international forum will bring together senior stakeholders from government, central banks, financial institutions and technology firms to address the rapid evolution of digital money. This summit will focus on translating innovation into practical, secure and well-regulated outcomes for the global financial system. The agenda will examine the rise of new forms of money, including stablecoins and tokenized deposits, and their implications for financial stability, monetary policy and market infrastructure. Discussions will explore how banks and non-banks are issuing tokenized liabilities, whether new infrastructures are required to allow tokenized money to move seamlessly across institutions, and how initiatives such as regulated liability networks may shape future payments ecosystems. A significant part of the program will be dedicated to Europe’s strategic autonomy in digital finance, with a particular focus on the digital euro. Sessions will analyze whether a digital euro can counterbalance the growing influence of large global technology firms in payments, how interoperable European solutions can be developed with offline functionality to ensure inclusion and resilience, and how governance, legal and technical standards can ensure that central bank money and tokenized deposits coexist while preserving monetary sovereignty. The summit will also address cross-border payments, reviewing progress against the G20 vision of faster, cheaper and more inclusive international transfers, as well as the development of resilient domestic instant payments systems. Topics will include the use of advanced analytics and AI in fraud prevention, the linking of instant payment systems across borders, the influence of digital assets on payments and foreign exchange, and the changing role of digital wallets in consumer behavior. The program will conclude with an examination of blockchain’s role in financial services, covering regulatory and operational challenges, responsibilities in decentralized systems, and principles for technology-agnostic regulation. London Insurance Week 2026 June 01-05, 2026 London, United Kingdom London Insurance Week 2026 will be held from June 01 to 05, 2026 in London and is expected to attract more than 2,500 attendees and over 100 speakers from across the global insurance ecosystem. The event will combine a large-scale conference with immersive formats designed to encourage interaction and deal-making. These include dedicated innovation zones showcasing cutting-edge products, high-impact stages led by industry leaders, executive deal rooms for curated discussions, interactive living labs for real-time product demonstrations, and structured dialogues with regulators and standards bodies. Meanwhile, networking lounges and cross-pollination hubs will foster collaboration between insurers, reinsurers, brokers, technology providers and policymakers. This year’s conference theme, “Forge the Future: Innovation, Regulation & Beyond,” will put an emphasis on shaping the next phase of insurance through technology, policy and collaboration. The agenda will be structured around several core focus pillars that reflect the most pressing challenges facing the industry. These include: The climate crisis and the need to develop new models for resilient coverage in the face of increasing climate volatility; AI and cyber threats, as insurers confront rapidly evolving digital risks; Economic volatility, with a focus on protecting policyholders amid inflation and global uncertainty; Talent shortages driven by demographic change and shifting workforce expectations; and Regulatory complexity arising from fast-changing and multi-jurisdictional compliance requirements. London Tech Week 2026 June 08-12, 2026 London, United Kingdom London Tech Week 2026 will take place from June 08 to 12, 2026, across London and will convene the innovators, investors, enterprises, and policymakers shaping the future of technology and business. The event aims to serve as a platform for connecting the entire tech ecosystem, from early-stage startups to global enterprises, and for exploring how technology and AI are transforming industries and society. This year’s program will be designed to support collaboration between startups, enterprise leaders, and investors. Founders and startup teams will have the opportunity to connect with investors, meet future partners, and learn from peers who are scaling businesses across the UK and Europe. Enterprise leaders will gain insight into how emerging technologies are being adopted to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. Meanwhile, investors, including VC firms, corporate venture funds, and angel investors, will be able to identify new opportunities and use enhanced networking tools to connect with relevant stakeholders. Speakers confirmed for London Tech Week 2026 include: Mati Staniszewski, Co-Founder & CEO, ElevenLabs; Anton Osika, Co-Founder & CEO, Lovable; Alan Chang, Co-Founder & CEO, Fuse Energy; Jeannette zu Fürstenberg, Managing Director & Head of Europe, General Catalyst; Miki Kuusi, CEO, Deliveroo; Alex Kendall, Founder & CEO, Wayve; Toyin Ajayi, Co-Founder, Cityblock Health; Ling Ge, Chief Investment & Strategy Officer, EMEA, Tencent; Max Jaderberg, Co-Founder & President, Isomorphic Labs; and Lucy Liu, Co-Founder & President, Airwallex. PayTech Awards 2026 June 25, 2026 Honourable Artillery Company, London The PayTech Awards 2026 will take place on June 25, 2026 at the Honourable Artillery Company in London. The awards ceremony will celebrate innovation and excellence across the payments, paytech, and fintech sectors, recognizing outstanding achievements by organizations, teams, and individuals from around the world. Building on the scale of the previous year, the 2026 awards edition is expected to bring together more than 200 senior leaders from banking and paytech, representing over 50 banks, paytech firms, and technology providers. Winners will be recognized across a wide range of categories, reflecting innovation, impact, and excellence in projects, products, services, and leadership. The evening will combine the awards ceremony with networking, dining, and entertainment in one of London’s most distinctive venues. The PayTech Awards are open to banks, financial institutions, payment institutions, fintech and paytech companies, technology and service providers, as well as individual professionals and teams. Nominations are assessed by an independent panel of expert judges with extensive experience in banking and payment technology. Submissions are evaluated on the basis of innovation, impact, effectiveness, and evidence-based results.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by alicephoto via Freepik The post Top 14 Fintech Events to Attend in London in H1 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Tinaba with Banca Profilo has announced the launch of digital payments in the Chinese mainland. This move extends its strategic partnership with Ant International’s Alipay+. The new service enables Tinaba users to pay at over 80 million merchants across China. Customers can complete these transactions by simply scanning a QR code directly within the app. Through the Pay Worldwide with Alipay+ feature, travellers can conduct transactions in Euros with transparent exchange rates. This eliminates the need to install local applications or open a Chinese bank account. Such a feature proves vital in the Chinese mainland, where digital payments dominate, and cash usage continues to fade. Matteo Arpe, President of Tinaba with Banca Profilo, described the entry into the Chinese market as a strategic step for the company’s global positioning. Matteo Arpe “Being able to offer our customers simple, secure and fully integrated access to this ecosystem means strengthening Tinaba’s international positioning as an open, innovative financial platform truly focused on global mobility,” Arpe said. The initiative supports the growing travel corridor between Italy and China, currently boosted by visa-free entry for Italian visitors. Pietro Candela, General Manager of EMEA at Alipay+, noted that the collaboration allows Italian travellers to “shop and dine like a local”. He emphasised that this benefit is delivered while maintaining a familiar user experience. The launch follows strong growth in cross-border digital wallet usage. Notably, Tinaba recorded a 133% increase in transaction volume through Alipay+ in 2025. In the coming months, the app plans to integrate Alipay+ Voyager, an AI-powered travel companion. Users can rely on the tool to assist with itinerary planning and bookings. This article first appeared on Fintech News Hong Kong. Featured image by Tinaba via LinkedIn. The post Tinaba Extends Alipay+ Pact, Enabling Payments in China appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Crypto custody firm BitGo priced its US$ initial public offering above its expected range on 21 January, raising US$212.8 million and marking the first stock market debut by a digital asset company in 2026. The Palo Alto, California-based firm sold 11.8 million shares at US$18 each, above the marketed range of US$15 to US$17, giving BitGo a valuation of US$2.08 billion, according to Reuters. The IPO comes amid uncertainty in the US crypto industry, as lawmakers advance a market structure bill that could redefine securities and commodities oversight, while major players such as Coinbase have warned it may constrain core business activities. A sharp sell-off in cryptocurrencies in October has hit the sector, complicating efforts to attract investor backing. Other crypto-focused firms, including asset manager Grayscale and reportedly cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, are reportedly planning IPOs this year, with BitGo’s listing seen as a test of market appetite. Founded in 2013, BitGo is among the largest crypto custody providers in the US, offering secure storage of digital assets at a time when institutional interest in cryptocurrencies is increasing.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post BitGo Raises $212.8M in IPO, First Crypto Listing of 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.