Global FinTech Edge

Microsmart SA, Greece’s pioneering decentralized microfinance institution, has teamed up with fintech innovator Begini to revolutionize lending for micro and small businesses (MSMEs). Representing 99% of Greek enterprises, MSMEs often face exclusion from traditional financing. This partnership leverages alternative data to bridge the credit gap, enabling faster, fairer access to funds for underserved entrepreneurs.

A new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report, Fit for Growth, Built for Purpose, highlights the ongoing erosion of traditional banks’ dominance in the global financial industry. Despite a 4% CAGR growth in the banking sector over the past five years, traditional banks are ceding critical ground to fintech challengers, digital banks, private credit funds, and nonbank market makers, prompting a call for bold transformation.

Bit2Me, Spain’s leading cryptocurrency platform and a major European player, in partnership with Cecabank, a premier custodian bank on the Iberian Peninsula, announced the launch of a fully integrated digital asset solution. This platform enables traditional financial institutions to offer crypto services swiftly, securely, and fully compliant with Europe’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation.

ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), a pioneer in global payments technology, announced the integration of major UK, EU, and global payment networks into ACI Connetic, its cloud-native payments hub. This integration includes Swift cross-border payments, RTGS payments such as Target2, SEPA Instant RT1, and TIPS payments, with more capabilities planned.

Secro, an AI-enabled platform transforming global trade finance by replacing paper-based processes with secure digital automation, announced the close of its oversubscribed $10 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Assembly Ventures and Sway Ventures, with participation from industry leaders including Signal Group, Wilhelmsen, Innoport, TMV, Augment Ventures, and other strategic partners.

Diginex Limited (NASDAQ: DGNX), a leading provider of Sustainability RegTech solutions, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated May 23, 2025, for an all-share acquisition of Matter DK ApS (“Matter”), an innovative ESG data company based in Copenhagen, Denmark. This strategic move aims to strengthen Diginex’s ESG data analytics and reporting capabilities, expanding its ability to support financial institutions with sustainability insights.

Santander Bank, N.A. today unveiled its first Openbank location in the United States, situated at 150 NE 8th Street within the new Miami Worldcenter. This innovative branch offers the full suite of Santander services alongside Openbank’s digital-first banking products, including a High Yield Savings account offering 10x the national average* interest rate. The new space is designed to blend personalized in-person service with advanced digital capabilities.

Sling Money, the app transforming global money movement through instant, low-cost transfers, has launched US and European Virtual Accounts for its users. This upgrade marks Sling Money’s evolution from peer-to-peer payments to a complete global earnings solution, empowering users to receive salaries, freelance payments, and more with ease.

Linqto, Inc., a leading fintech platform enabling access to late-stage private companies, announced today that it is actively exploring all strategic options to protect its assets and maximize stakeholder value. The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Jeremy Rosenthal, a restructuring expert, as an independent Director, effective immediately.

Visa, the global leader in digital payments, has introduced the Visa Commercial Integrated Partners program, a strategic initiative aimed at connecting fintechs and financial institutions with Visa’s commercial platform through advanced APIs. The program simplifies integration, enhances the digital payments ecosystem, and accelerates innovation across commercial payment solutions.