University of Kwazulu-Natal

Latest Bright Money News Insights Analysis Fintech Global

Bonisiwe Shabane
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latest bright money news insights analysis fintech global

Tether Data releases QVAC Genesis II, expanding the world’s largest open synthetic educational AI dataset to 148 billion tokens across 19 academic domains. UNICEF, with support from Bitget and global tech partners, is equipping young people in Cambodia with digital and financial skills through video game development programs. Berlin-based fintech Trade Republic reports a €12.5 billion valuation following a secondary share sale backed by major global investors, highlighting confidence in European retail investing platforms. The showdown between central banks from Europe and Latin America and crypto platforms like Ripple, Kraken, and Bit2Me will take the stage at MERGE Madrid (October 7–9). Over 200 international experts will gather in Madrid to rethink the future of money. The event will explore institutional adoption, regulatory impact, and the evolving retail use of crypto assets.

Madrid is emerging as a key meeting point for banks, fintechs, startups, and major corporations driving Web3 innovation. Ant International’s Alipay+ becomes an official sponsor of the New York Liberty, supporting community, sustainability, and youth programs as part of its global expansion strategy. Global fintech funding in H1 2025 recorded $44.7B with 2,216 deals. Looking back over H1’25, it’s clear that fintech investors were incredibly selective with their dealmaking. Key trends we saw during H1’25 included: The global fintech market saw $44.7 billion investment during H1’25 — the lowest six-month period since H1’20.

The impact of higher interest rates on the cost of capital and expectation of returns has removed more speculative investing and reset fintech investment to a new baseline. While fintech investors were cautiously optimistic entering 2025, new swells of geopolitical tensions combined with shifting US tariff and trade policies made it difficult for investors to feel confident in their dealmaking activities. Q2’25 was particularly soft, with just $18.7 billion invested across 972 deals — a volume of deals not seen since Q3’17. The Americas attracted $26.7 billion in fintech investment in H1’25, led by the $2.6 billion acquisition of US-based Next Insurance by Ergo Group, the primary insurance business of Munich Re¹ and the $2 billion... Comparatively, the EMEA region saw $13.7 billion, including the year’s largest fintech deal so far — the $3.2 billion buyout of UK-based Preqin by BlackRock² — and the $1.7 billion take-private of France-based Esker... At a sector level, digital assets and currencies attracted the most fintech investment globally this half year — $8.4 billion, compared to $10.7 billion during all of 2024 — led by a $2 billion...

At mid-year, the digital asset space was well positioned to achieve a three-year high in global investment — although it will likely remain well shy of 2021’s peak high of $31 billion. Investors showed particular interest in stablecoins, particularly in activities such as trading, remittances, and as a source of payment in emerging markets. Other investment areas include digital asset market infrastructure and tokenization platforms. During H1’25, the digital asset space also saw the incredibly successful IPO of USDC stablecoin issuer Circle; it raised $1.1 billion on the NYSE, with shares popping 168 percent in first day trading.⁵ Other...

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Tether Data Releases QVAC Genesis II, Expanding The World’s Largest

Tether Data releases QVAC Genesis II, expanding the world’s largest open synthetic educational AI dataset to 148 billion tokens across 19 academic domains. UNICEF, with support from Bitget and global tech partners, is equipping young people in Cambodia with digital and financial skills through video game development programs. Berlin-based fintech Trade Republic reports a €12.5 billion valuation fo...

Madrid Is Emerging As A Key Meeting Point For Banks,

Madrid is emerging as a key meeting point for banks, fintechs, startups, and major corporations driving Web3 innovation. Ant International’s Alipay+ becomes an official sponsor of the New York Liberty, supporting community, sustainability, and youth programs as part of its global expansion strategy. Global fintech funding in H1 2025 recorded $44.7B with 2,216 deals. Looking back over H1’25, it’s c...

The Impact Of Higher Interest Rates On The Cost Of

The impact of higher interest rates on the cost of capital and expectation of returns has removed more speculative investing and reset fintech investment to a new baseline. While fintech investors were cautiously optimistic entering 2025, new swells of geopolitical tensions combined with shifting US tariff and trade policies made it difficult for investors to feel confident in their dealmaking act...

At Mid-year, The Digital Asset Space Was Well Positioned To

At mid-year, the digital asset space was well positioned to achieve a three-year high in global investment — although it will likely remain well shy of 2021’s peak high of $31 billion. Investors showed particular interest in stablecoins, particularly in activities such as trading, remittances, and as a source of payment in emerging markets. Other investment areas include digital asset market infra...