Category: FinTech

  • The challenges of dealing with digital identity

    Like many, I’m still working on the idea of authentication, verification and identification using immutable technologies or, more specifically, distributed ledger technologies (DLT). There are many firms active in this space, trying to create digital identity systems using DLT, but it is far more complicated than such a simple solution. The reason is that the……

  • The challenges of dealing with digital identity

    Like many, I’m still working on the idea of authentication, verification and identification using immutable technologies or, more specifically, distributed ledger technologies (DLT). There are many firms active in this space, trying to create digital identity systems using DLT, but it is far more complicated than such a simple solution. The reason is that the……

  • Fintech Ramp lands Eagles’ Saquon Barkley as investor and Super Bowl commercial star

    Philadelphia Eagles’ star running back Saquon Barkley has not only become an investor in fintech startup Ramp, he is also the star of the company’s first Super Bowl commercial. Interestingly, it was Barkley who reached out to Ramp about investing, not the other way around as is so often the case with celebrity endorsements.  Barkley…

  • Superlogic raises $13.7M at a $200M valuation to help consumers use reward points toward cool ‘experiences’

    Superlogic, a startup that helps give consumers a way to apply rewards points toward experiences, has raised $13.7 million at a $200 million valuation, the company tells TechCrunch exclusively. Lin Dai, CEO and co-founder of Miami-based Superlogic, said his company’s technology is designed to “enhance the value of rewards points” by giving consumers a broader…

  • Things worth reading: 6th February 2025

    Things we’re reading today include … From fintech to space tech: Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt is betting on space solar | TechCrunch Farage offers Trump tips to take on the banks – POLITICO Wall Street banks offload $5.5bn in debt linked to Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter Lloyds hit with £1bn tax bill after legal……

  • If you have no access to your bank, why would you use that bank?

    There’s been a bunch of headlines in the last week of online banking failures whilst, at the same time, another group of headlines of bank branch closures because customers should use digital banking. Barclays hit by major IT outage on tax deadline day – BBC News Moment customers surge around Barclays’ cash machines for ‘free……

  • The big issue: 2025 commerce is connected to a 2005 checkout system

    In an excellent article on LinkedIn, Priscilla Russo laments the state of Agentic AI from a payments point of view. Bearing in mind that 2025 is the year of Agentic AI – a world where AI agents do everything for you on your behalf – it is clear that we have a dichotomy between the open……

  • Things worth reading: 5th February 2025

    Things we’re reading today include … Elon Musk’s Portfolio and its Impact on Cryptocurrency Trading Bill Gates criticizes cryptocurrency: ‘High IQs fooled themselves’ US Congress to form cryptocurrency working group Cryptocurrency Prices Plummet Amid U.S. Regulatory Concerns Coinbase Pushes US to Pave Way for Bank-Crypto Partnerships Solaris secures €140m Series G funding, SBI Group becomes……

  • Deel unloads $300M in secondary sale, brings General Catalyst on as an investor

    Fintech-turned-HR outfit Deel is trying to lay the groundwork for an IPO. On Tuesday, it said its annual revenue run rate climbed to $800 million in 2024 after growing by 70%. The startup, which helps businesses globally hire, manage and pay employees remotely, also said it has sold $300 million in secondary shares to General…

  • Egypt’s Khazna banks $16M for its financial super app and expansion into Saudi

    A large portion of Egypt’s population lacks access to traditional banking, forcing many to rely on cash transactions and informal lending. Khazna, a fintech startup founded in 2019, is tackling this issue by offering financial services tailored for low- and middle-income workers. The company provides solutions like salary advances, digital payments, and microloans to help…