This podcast episode is sponsored by Mercuryo. With the help of their cryptopowered toolbox, Mercuryo enables companies to take advantage of both fiat and crypto worlds and provide innovative payment solutions for end-customers.
? News Highlight: Swedish payments firm Klarna Bank AB is weighing plans to raise new money in a funding round that would cement its status as Europe’s most valuable startup.
The Stockholm-based company is likely to attract sovereign wealth and pension funds as new investors. Klarna could potentially fetch a valuation of roughly $50 billion to $60 billion based on preliminary estimates.
⚡ Just in El Salvador's state-backed bitcoin wallet that went live in September, Chivo wallet, keeps breaking and users are seeking answers.
⭐ Also, Sequoia Capital made a big bet on Web3.0, leading a $450 million dollar investment in Polygon blockchain.
?? Furthermore, Tonik the parent company of Tonik Digital Bankin the Philippines, announced that it closed a $131 million dollar Series B round of equity funding.
? Crypto
-Wirex, a leading digital payments platform, has launched its services in the US, giving millions of people more affordable, easy and secure access to crypto and fiat currencies in everyday life.
-Financial technology leader Worldpay from FIS® has partnered with Crypto.com, the world’s fastest growing cryptocurrency platform, to be a global validator and operator for the Crypto.org Chain.
? M&As:
-Commonwealth Bank of Australia announced that it has acquired a 20% stake in Brisbane-based fintech Paypa Plane.
-Indian payment gateway provider Razorpay announced its first international expansion into Southeast Asia with the acquisition of a majority stake in Curlec, a Malaysian payments firm.
? Partnerships -
- Mastercard and Egyptian fintech Kashat have signed a five-year agreement that will digitize the onboarding, disbursement, and collection processes for MENA’s first nano financial service provider.
- DNA Payments Group and Verifone are proud to announce an essential partnership championing innovation and reliability within the payments sector.
- Fiserv, Inc. announced the expansion of its relationship with UnionPay International, a wholly owned subsidiary of China UnionPay, one of the world’s largest payment networks.