The Fintech Times Bi-Weekly News Roundup takes a look at the latest fintech stories from around the world on Thursday 17 July 2025.
Industry movers
Broadridge Financial Solutions, a global technology provider for financial services, has named Lucas Swertloff as global head of custom policy, a newly created role. Swertloff, formerly at Glass Lewis, brings more than a decade of experience in proxy voting and policy design. He’ll lead strategy for the ProxyEdge platform, focusing on custom voting policies and AI-driven analytics for institutional investors.
Ripjar, the UK-based risk intelligence and regtech company, has appointed James Lin as its first chief innovation officer. Lin, a veteran in AI and big data, will lead efforts to develop next-generation tools to help clients detect risks earlier and respond more effectively. He joins from Continental Finance and has held senior roles at RDC, AML RightSource, Forbes and Merrill Lynch.
M3, a US-based hospitality financial software firm, has welcomed Klavs Miller as chief technology officer and Allison Carter as vice president of human resources. The hires come as M3 scales its CoreSelect product, aimed at mid-sized hotel groups, following over 100 per cent growth in the past year. Backed by Blackstone, M3 serves more than 9,000 hospitality entities across North America.
Industry collaborations
Cathay United Bank has become the first institution to establish private banking operations in Taiwan’s new Asset Management Hub in Kaohsiung. Working with long-standing tech partner Avaloq, the bank is setting up a new booking centre and operational base to deliver onshore services to high-net-worth clients. The initiative follows recent regulatory reforms and aims to strengthen Taiwan’s position as a regional wealth centre.
Leeds Building Society has teamed up with AND Digital to upskill its developers ahead of a core banking platform overhaul. The custom training programme, which ran from June to October 2024, focused on equipping LBS’s in-house tech team with modern development skills to reduce reliance on legacy systems and external contractors. Developers are now applying these capabilities to live projects, delivering faster and more efficiently.
Singapore-based cash management platform Chocolate Finance has partnered with Snowdrop Solutions to enrich transaction data in its app, helping users better understand their spending. The fintech, known for offering daily returns of up to three per cent per annum on balances, will now display merchant names, logos and categories via Snowdrop’s MRS API. Chocolate plans to add more features, including location data and spending insights, over time.
KN Group, a Hong Kong fintech focused on AI-driven lending in emerging markets, has partnered with Web3 firm AlloyX to launch a $20millon tokenised fund backed by consumer loans. AlloyX provides blockchain infrastructure to bring the assets on-chain, aiming to boost liquidity and broaden funding access.
Genome, a Lithuania-based electronic‑money institution, has partnered with HUCH, a Paris-headquartered open‑banking payments provider, to offer instant SEPA payment detection. HUCH’s platform connects directly to 2,000+ European banks, enabling real‑time settlement, no chargebacks and fast payouts. The integration uses API and webhook triggers, allowing merchants such as iGaming, e‑commerce, and subscription platforms to confirm transfers immediately.
More partnerships
Thredd, a global payments processor, has partnered with Puerto Rico-based BIN sponsor Payblr to support fintech expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean. The partnership combines Thredd’s processing infrastructure with Payblr’s regulatory expertise to help international firms launch compliant card programmes faster across the region.
Bluefin has partnered with Allied Electronics to integrate its PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solution, Decryptx®, into Allied’s NeXGen PRIME forecourt controller. The move strengthens payment security at fuel dispensers and in-store terminals, helping merchants reduce PCI compliance scope and mitigate risk. Allied supports over 500 live fuel retail locations with the joint solution, while its forecourt systems are deployed at more than 52,000 sites globally.
Company milestones
Inovat, a startup offering a fully digital VAT refund service for travellers, has won the second edition of the FAB forward Fintech Challenge – a joint initiative by Mastercard and First Abu Dhabi Bank. Selected from more than 135 entrants, Inovat was recognised for its solution addressing a key travel friction point while enhancing digital engagement for banks and airlines. As winner, Inovat receives $100,000 and the chance to collaborate with FAB on a proof of concept.
Euroclear, a major European post-trade infrastructure provider, has unveiled plans to create a single market for settlement and custody services across the EU. The initiative aims to connect all 27 member states by 2026, covering equities, fixed income and funds, with support for both central and commercial bank money settlement.
ZBD, a fintech building next-generation payments for interactive entertainment, has secured an electronic money institution licence in the Netherlands and partnered with ClearBank to expand its fiat and crypto services across the European Economic Area. Already MiCAR-approved, ZBD can now offer e-money services, including cards, wallets, and multi-currency accounts. ClearBank will provide safeguarding and operational accounts to support euro payments alongside ZBD’s existing Bitcoin capabilities.
Product updates
HSBC has launched Receivables Advantage, an upgraded non-recourse receivables finance solution aimed at large corporates seeking to boost liquidity and reduce trade risk. The offering enables businesses to sell receivables to HSBC, unlocking working capital and transferring non-payment risk to the bank. HSBC says the solution is designed to help firms improve balance sheet efficiency, manage buyer credit exposure and adapt to a shifting global trade environment.
Kraken, the crypto-native trading platform, has launched Kraken Derivatives US, enabling US clients to trade crypto futures listed on the CME via its Kraken Pro interface. The launch follows Kraken’s acquisition of retail futures platform NinjaTrader, as it expands into regulated US derivatives and prepares to add commodity, FX and equity futures later this year. Kraken also recently began offering tokenised equities and commission-free stock trading in the US.
Funding and investments
SIGMA AI, a London-based fintech specialising in low-latency data and AI-driven analytics for capital markets, has received a minority investment from Trading Technologies (TT). The deal will see SIGMA build an AI and innovation hub to embed machine learning across TT’s global trading platform. SIGMA founder Andy Simpson will also take on the role of head of AI and innovation at TT, advising on strategy.
FundApps, a UK-based regulatory compliance technology platform, has received a growth equity investment from FTV Capital to accelerate global expansion and product development. Founded in 2010, FundApps serves over 160 financial institutions, including hedge funds, asset managers and banks with tools for monitoring shareholding disclosure and position limits. The deal sees Scottish Equity Partners exit, while FTV Capital takes board seats as part of the transaction.
Heka, a New York– and Tel Aviv–based startup that provides web intelligence to banks and payment firms, has raised $14million in Series A funding led by Windare Ventures with backing from Barclays and others. Founded in 2021, Heka’s AI engine builds real-time digital identity profiles from public web data to help financial institutions detect synthetic fraud and identity manipulation. Its tools are already in use by banks, payment processors, and pension funds in the US and Europe.
CertifID, a US wire fraud protection platform for real estate transactions, has raised $47.5million in Series C funding led by Centana Growth Partners. The funding will support product expansion in identity verification, transaction monitoring and secure payments. CertifID claims to have prevented $1.3billon in fraud losses last year and recovered over $100million for victims.
