The era of speculative experimentation is over; digital assets are now entering the engine room of the global economy. At a recent industry roundtable in Dubai, Mastercard gathered regulators, bankers, and fintech leaders to decode the future of stablecoins. The consensus? We have moved past the hype cycle into a phase of pragmatic, regulated utility […]
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Universal Digital Intl Limited (Universal) has launched USDU, the first USD-backed stablecoin to be registered by the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) under its Payment Token Services Regulation (PTSR). The move positions Universal as the first “Foreign Payment Token Issuer” registered by the CBUAE. The launch is significant as it establishes the country’s first […]
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Zepz, the global payments group behind WorldRemit and Sendwave, has acquired Pomelo, a fintech platform known for offering the “first credit card built for money transfer.” The deal marks a significant strategic pivot for Zepz, signaling its intent to evolve beyond pure cross-border payments into broader financial services, including lending and credit building. Merging credit […]
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The ClearScore Group has acquired Acre Platforms Ltd (Acre), the UK’s fastest-growing intermediary mortgage platform, in a move designed to fast-track its expansion into the mortgage sector. The acquisition will see ClearScore integrate Acre’s technology to route demand from its 16 million UK users directly into Acre’s broker ecosystem. Connecting data and advice Justin Basini, […]
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The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) Group has partnered with AI technology firm Saal.ai to design and build a “next-generation” market data dissemination platform. Announced at UMEX in Abu Dhabi, the collaboration aims to replace legacy infrastructure with a unified, scalable system capable of meeting the exchange’s evolving data needs. Real-time data for a digital […]
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FIS has completed its $13.5billion acquisition of Global Payments’ Issuer Solutions business (formerly TSYS), a deal it has immediately leveraged to launch a new “agentic commerce” offering for banks. The fintech giant confirmed the close of the transaction on 12 January 2026, positioning the integration as a catalyst for its new AI-driven capabilities. Leading the […]
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Stefan Lucas, CEO and founder of industry platform FinTech Armenia, has urged the UK to capitalise on Armenia’s emerging role as a digital finance hub, describing the country as an “open goal” for British firms seeking sustainable growth and new trade partnerships. Stefan Lucas, CEO and founder of FinTech Armenia In a guest editorial for […]
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Ejike Nwafor, an investment and regulatory counsel, outlines the shifting landscape for investors and fintechs in Nigeria as the nation targets a US$1trillion economy. Ejike Nwafor, investment and regulatory counsel According to Nwafor, the investment conversation in 2026 has fundamentally changed: the question is no longer whether Nigeria is reform-minded, but whether investors are prepared […]
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Invest Qatar, the national investment promotion agency, will participate in Web Summit Qatar 2026, where it will host the Startup Qatar Pavilion to highlight the country’s rapidly evolving entrepreneurial landscape. Building on the engagement of previous editions, the pavilion is designed to showcase Qatar’s business-friendly environment and the opportunities available to international startups seeking to […]
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London’s sweeping new capital markets reforms could finally halt years of decline and spark a resurgence in IPO activity, according to deVere Group. The independent financial advisory firm believes the regulatory overhaul, rolled out this week, marks a decisive “shift in tone” that could make the City competitive against global rivals like New York after […]
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