Welcome to our latest Weekly Funding Highlights! In this roundup, we cover developments across the funding landscape, including strategic investments, funding rounds, and innovative initiatives from key players in the industry. Rippling raises $200m at $13.5bn valuation to boost platform Rippling, a US-founded company specializing in employee management software, has raised an impressive $200 million in its Series F funding round, valuing the company at $13.5 billion. Coatue led the round, joined by existing investors Founders Fund and Greenoaks, with Dragoneer as a new investor. Rippling aims ..read more

ID wallets: The future of identification and data exchange This article is based on an episode of the Data Sharing Podcast. Digital ID wallets are an emerging concept in the world of innovation and digital data sharing. In this article, Hidde Koning (Director of Business Development at Ockto) and Robert Harreman (Founder of Ockto) delve into this topic. Using five statements, Hidde and Robert provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of ID wallets and offer insights into the future. They discuss topics such as the feasibility of the wallets, their function as (non-)storage of perso ..read more

Stay up to date with the latest news from the Netherlands!  Enjoy reading! Crypto service providers can apply for a permit from the AFM (AFM) Starting from April 22, 2024, providers of crypto asset services (CASPs) can apply for a license or notification with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Upon approval, the permit or notification can be utilized starting December 30, 2024. The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) will become effective on the same date, allowing licensed CASPs to offer services across the European market. AFM serves as the primary superv ..read more

The fintech industry is rapidly evolving and disrupting traditional financial systems. In this article, we bring you the latest research insights to help you stay ahead of the curve and understand the future of financial technology. Enjoy researching! Bitcoin Halving: A Comprehensive Guide for Investors (LinkedIn) “Bitcoin Halving: A Comprehensive Guide for Investors” provides an extensive exploration of the bitcoin halving event, specifically curated to cater to the needs of investors. Delving deep into the mechanics and implications of this pivotal event in the cryptocurrency sphere, the gui ..read more

Dive into the dynamic world of finance with our latest analysis highlights, exploring hot topics from the fintech funding industry. DeFi’s Path to Mass Adoption Goes Through Fintech Firms, Centralized Exchanges, Morpho Labs Chief Says (Coindesk) Paul Frambot, CEO of Morpho Labs, asserts that the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) lies in layer-2 infrastructure adoption by fintech firms and centralized exchanges. Unlike traditional finance, which has little incentive to switch to DeFi due to its existing advantages, fintechs can benefit from building on layer 2s, reducing costs and increasi ..read more

Welcome to the latest in fintech news, where cutting-edge technologies and innovative financial solutions converge to reshape the landscape of banking, investing, and payments. Stay tuned as we explore the trends driving the future of finance! Microsoft Invests $1.5 Billion in Abu Dhabi’s G42 to Accelerate AI Development and Global Expansion (G42) Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in G42, a leading UAE-based AI technology holding company, signifies a deepened collaboration aimed at advancing AI technologies globally. This partnership aims to bring Microsoft’s AI advancements and skilling ini ..read more

Welcome to our latest Weekly Funding Highlights! In this roundup, we cover developments across the funding landscape, including strategic investments, funding rounds, and innovative initiatives from key players in the industry. Embedded FinTech Parafin boosts infrastructure with $125m warehouse facility Parafin, an embedded financial services company, secures a $125m warehouse facility from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Trinity Capital. The investment aims to enhance Parafin’s ability to provide capital to small and medium-sized businesses on platforms like DoorDash and Amazon. Parafin’s innov ..read more

Stay up to date with the latest news from the Netherlands!  Enjoy reading! Action needed to stop the use of buy now pay later by minors (AFM) The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) found that in 2023, nearly 600,000 transactions linked to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers were made by minors, which is concerning as credit shouldn’t be granted to them. Consumers under 35 often miss payment terms, incurring significant reminder costs. A behavioral experiment showed that sending payment reminders via text message effectively reduced late payments. Additionally, for every ..read more

The fintech industry is rapidly evolving and disrupting traditional financial systems. In this article, we bring you the latest research insights to help you stay ahead of the curve and understand the future of financial technology. Enjoy researching! Green steel: Structural change (Quartz) The Quartz article and podcast spotlight the environmental impact of traditional steelmaking and introduce green steel as a more sustainable alternative. Traditional steel production is known for its high carbon emissions, but green steel offers a greener approach by reimagining materials and processes. Fea ..read more

Dive into the dynamic world of finance with our latest analysis highlights, exploring hot topics from the fintech funding industry. Mapping the contextual fintech evolution (Calcalistech) Noam Inbar, a Partner at Viola FinTech, discusses the evolution of embedded finance and emphasizes the shift towards contextual finance for a more personalized customer experience. While embedded finance has shown potential, it often lacks significant value beyond basic distribution. Contextual finance, on the other hand, focuses on integrating financial services into the customer’s primary goals, delivering ..read more