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Vietnam launches crypto exchange licensing
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In a region where cryptocurrency use is growing briskly in many countries, Vietnam still manages to stand out. Research firm Chainalysis notes that along with India and Pakistan, Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing decentralized virtual currency markets in both the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Vietnam’s overall index rating is 4 of 151. 21% of Vietnamese adults…
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2 of Brazil’s biggest fintechs eye U.S. IPOs
Across the globe, momentum is building for fintech IPOs as equities markets continue to surge, shrugging off economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension. Two of Brazil’s largest fintechs, Agibank and PicPay, are both planning to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which attracted seven of the 10 largest IPOs in 2025. Among them were…
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Why the Taiwan Stock Exchange had an incredible year in 2025
Geopolitical tumult and economic uncertainty across the world failed in 2025 to shake investor confidence in equity markets, with Taiwan being one of the best examples of this phenomenon. The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TAIEX) set six records in 2025 and could soon overtake Canada’s stock market (TSX) to become the world’s No. 6 stock market…
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U.S. Fintech IPOs Surge, Then Fizzle
After several years of a slow deal pipeline, U.S. fintech IPOs rebounded strongly in 2025. The concerns about inflation and high interest rates that had made investors risk-averse dissipated this year, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty linked to the United States’ trade policy. 2025 saw several long-awaited big-ticket deals come to fruition, including Chime, Circle, and Klarna. Deal…
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Why Stripe won’t commit to an IPO
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Stripe is one of the oldest fintech unicorns to remain a private company. Founded in 2010, Stripe is arguably past prime time to go public. Why the delay? It’s complicated. With a valuation of $106.7 billion, the San Francisco and Dublin-headquartered company is one of the most successful payment startups of all time. Its seed…
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Google Pay launches UPI-linked credit card in India
Google Pay has long been an anomaly in India’s fintech industry. It is the only U.S. tech giant that has gained a strong foothold in the Indian payments sector and has been able to maintain at least a 33% share of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) market for almost eight years. Paramount to Google Pay’s…
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Are N26’s best days behind it?
Are N26’s best days behind it? N26 is one of Europe’s most prominent digital banks, with $486 million in sales in 2024. Yet despite the German neobank’s impressive growth over the past 12 years, we cannot help but wonder if it will ever live up to the promise of the US$9 billion valuation it achieved…
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North Korea’s crypto theft reaches new high in 2025
Long known for financial crime, North Korea has become the most notorious crypto-pilfering state actor over the past few years. The Hermit Kingdom operates a sophisticated, state-directed cyber apparatus, known largely through groups like the Lazarus Group. North Korea steals cryptocurrency for the same reasons it engages in financial crime involving fiat currency: to circumvent…
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South Asia doubles down on crypto
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In 2025, the United States was arguably the most prominent cryptocurrency market globally because of the Trump administration’s high-profile moves to regulate digital assets and incorporate them into the mainstream financial system. However, when it comes to actual demand for cryptocurrency, the U.S. is an outlier. Demand for digital assets is growing fastest in emerging…
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Starling Bank mulls next big steps
Technology forward with a lean cost structure and known for being customer centric, Starling Bank is one of the most successful UK digital lenders. It has operated as a licensed bank in the U.K. since 2018 with shareholders that include Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments and the Qatar Investment Authority. In the fiscal year ended March 31,…
