Alexander Peschkoff

Germany's Largest Development Bank KfW Selects Boerse Stuttgart Digital as Infrastructure Partner for Its New Blockchain-Based Digital Bond "As a pioneer in digital assets, we aim to significantly shape the digital European market infrastructure. The expansion of our offering for institutional clients and our involvement in KfW's next blockchain-based digital bond mark a milestone in the digital transformation of the financial sector," says Dr. Ulli Spankowski, Managing Director of Boerse Stuttgart Digital. https://lnkd.in/eUC5Y2G2 Stefanie Möllner Dr. Oliver Vins Dirk Kruwinnus Joaquín Sastre Ibáñez Dr. Matthias Voelkel Bincy Kochalumoottil Sebastian Kraft Gaetano Panno KfW Treasury #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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wamo Secures $5 Million in Funding and EMI License to Fuel Growth Across Europe Yanki Onen, CEO and founder of wamo commented: “Since launching wamo, we’ve been relentlessly focused on removing the barriers that SMEs face when opening a business account and managing their finances. The addition of Logo Ventures in this round brings strong expertise and experience to help us build a proposition that promotes, not discourages, the ambitions of underserved SMEs across Europe. Alongside this, our EMI license marks a significant milestone in our journey, enabling us to unlock new markets and become the preferred partner for SMEs, providing regulated services across the continent.” https://lnkd.in/eWvFS2yy Merve Zabci #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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ClearBank announced it has been selected by Poundtoken to provide banking services, allowing it to hold its fiat-backed stablecoin reserves at the Bank of England. poundtoken.io is the first British regulated sterling stablecoin issuer. The fiat equivalent value of Poundtoken (GBP) is “held in safeguarded and segregated bank accounts, meaning it is always redeemable, one-to-one, for pound sterling.” By providing safeguarded bank accounts, ClearBank enables “the stablecoin reserves to be held at the Bank of England, offering greater peace of mind for holders.” #blockchain #crypto #stablecoin #digital #future

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🗞 I thought I would be done with posting till "la rentrée" but the European Union Authorities have been on 🔥 #norestforthewicked 🚀 ESMA published a Q&A on staking where it states that "staking as such is not subject to specific requirements or licensing. If in the provision of staking services, the crypto assets, or the private keys giving access to them, are held by the staking service provider in custody, regulation apply. Indeed, in that case the provision of staking services is ancillary to custody services which are fully covered under MiCA. The provision of staking services therefore requires that the crypto asset staking service provider is authorised under MiCA to provide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of client". This perfectly coincide with the release of our paper on the risks in staking and block building in ETH where we discuss legal and compliance aspects: https://lnkd.in/dKssGYqp 💡 3 European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) t published a consultation paper on Guidelines under Markets in Crypto-assets Regulation (MiCAR), establishing templates for explanations and legal opinions regarding the classification of crypto-assets along with a standardised test to foster a common approach to classification: https://lnkd.in/djBjC2vW. The first part of the test is to determine if there is a digital representation of a value or right, these being the necessary attributes of a crypto-asset as defined in Article 3(1) point (5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, with value and right interpreted broadly, ‘right’ may include an entitlement to a payment or reward (e.g. a right to receive a discount on goods or services, or a voucher), a right to access a good or service, or a right of display (e.g. a tokenised visual). Cryptoassets with no-intrinsic value, but having a value attributed to them by the seller / buyer or by market participants9 should be treated as digital representations of value. The draft guideline also gives references to other applicable regulations to determine if the asset does not fall in another category such as financial instruments where it recommends to use the Guidelines issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority under Article 2(5) of Regulation (EU)2023/1114 🚀 And as always do not forget to join the Crypto Compliance and Legal TG group https://lnkd.in/ed9gh_xw where we share all the lattest regulatory news, best practices, experiences and tips Solidus Labs #cryptoregulations #cryptocomplianceandlegal #MiCAr

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Finom Launches SEPA Direct Debit B2B Across Its EMI-Licensed Markets, Expanding Payment Options for European SMEs “With the launch of SEPA Direct Debit B2B, we’re empowering SMEs across Europe to efficiently manage their payment flows,” said Yakov Novikov, co-CEO and co-founder at FINOM. “This feature simplifies complex financial operations, allowing small and medium-sized businesses to automate and manage their outgoing payments to other companies and tax authorities. It’s another step in our mission to build a full-stack financial operating system that enables entrepreneurs to streamline their financial commitments and focus on growing their businesses.” https://lnkd.in/eiaDuxB4 #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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Monzo Bank Raises Additional $190 Million TS Anil, CEO of Monzo: “The huge interest we see from global investors is testament to the momentum and strength of our business model and the commitment of our teams, who put our customers at the heart of everything we do. With even more rocketfuel for our ambitions and exciting products in the pipeline, there’s no doubt in my mind that the best of Monzo is yet to come.” https://lnkd.in/etJWG4yq #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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Cboe Clear Europe Successfully Participates in ECB Experiment on Use of DLT Vikesh Patel, President, Cboe Clear Europe, said: “As Europe’s largest and most-connected pan-European clearing house, our core mission has always been to advance Europe’s post-trade landscape. Our successful participation in the ECB’s exploratory work, alongside ABN Amro Clearing Bank N.V., demonstrates our commitment to innovation and building our understanding of new technologies such as DLT.” https://lnkd.in/e-haU_uE #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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ColCap UK and Molo Complete £300 Million Securitisation ColCap UK’s Treasurer, Paolo Tanca, commented, “This deal represents a significant milestone for us, showcasing our ability to structure and execute successful RMBS transactions in the UK market. We are excited about the opportunities for future growth and expansion.” Esther Morley Matthew Kimber https://lnkd.in/eyBXKnyR #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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🇬🇧Today, the Financial Conduct Authority published a few interesting documents: 📚A research note on crypto assets consumer * 12% of UK adults own crypto ↗️ * 93% of UK adults have heard about crypto * Only 1 in 10 people say they did not do any research before buying crypto * Link here https://lnkd.in/d_sEdZfC 🔉A blog on their regulatory approach to crypto, with key points on: * Admissions and disclosures - fundamental for investors protection * Market abuse regime - Yes it is coming, get in touch for how we can help you to achieve compliance 🔥 Solidus Labs * Trading platforms and intermediaries - setting up strong systems and controls that enables fair, orderly, transparent and efficient trading Link here https://lnkd.in/d5J7Sq4s ⏳The roadmap for crypto regulations with Market abuse Discussion paper - Systems and controls Information, sharing Inside information, disclosure is planned for Q4 🚀 with a consultation in Q3 2025. At Solidus Labs we are here to help and support you on the road to compliance, so get in touch and start planning 🔥 . Link here https://lnkd.in/d3XbknvN ❗ Cryptoasset financial promotions and fiat-to-crypto on/off ramp services warning regulated/registered firms to carefully consider the risks of partnering with unregistered cryptoasset firms that may be illegally promoting to UK consumers. Interesting to note that they "are concerned about financial promotions communicated in addition to the ‘widget’ operated by the MLR registered firm, such as on the broader website, app or social media accounts of the unregistered partner firm". And this is exactly what we discuss at the roundtable organised by Simmons & Simmons during the RegTech Forum Steve Vallas Carly Nuzbach Lowery George Morris Podcast spoiler alert 😉 ✅ As always the FCA provides for good practices such as engaging with a section 21 approver (Gateway 21), having robust risk controls in place such as persuading the partner/client firm to implement controls such as geo-blocks, to prevent financial promotions on websites, applications, and other channels from having effect in the UK. ❌ The FCA also discourages authorized firms to have direct relationships with unregistered crypto assets firms. Strongly recommend a full read here: https://lnkd.in/dGg7a-d2 🚀 And as always do not forget to join the Crypto Compliance and Legal TG group https://lnkd.in/ed9gh_xw where we share all the latest regulatory news, best practices, experiences and tips Ian Taylor can't wait to work closer on those topics with you and CryptoUK #Cryptocompliance #futureoffinance #Marketintegrity #betterworld

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Zopa Bank & ClearScore-Led Campaign Pledge2025.org Surpasses 15 Million Actions Milestone in Bid to Build the Financial Resilience of UK Consumers Jaidev Janardana, CEO of Zopa Bank said: “We’re thrilled to see the 2025 Fintech Pledge continue to progress so rapidly. While our economy is stabilising and inflation has largely abated, there is no room for complacency. The fintech ecosystem can jump-start the UK economy, helping consumers bounce-back by embracing new behaviours that support their long term financial well-being.” https://lnkd.in/eR7Y2uEZ Wilfred Collins Lucas Germanos Clare Gambardella Peter Donlon Michael Woodburn Vicky Saliari Justin Basini Andy Sleigh Michael Woodburn #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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Tide Launches New Carbon Calculator to Help SMEs Reach Net Zero Gurjodhpal Singh, Tide India CEO and Head of Net Zero, said: “Around 99% of UK businesses are SMEs, and while many of them wish to cut emissions, two-thirds have admitted that financial barriers often stand in the way. SMEs may have a smaller footprint individually, but they collectively contribute 43-53% of the UK's business greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve already seen huge engagement from our members and today’s launch is significant, not only for Tide and the fintech industry but more importantly for SMEs. It gives them the resources they need to measure, monitor, and manage their emissions — directly through their Tide accounts." https://lnkd.in/eEXVrv5V Naz Zandi Connect Earth Alexander L. Ester Neuner Christina Gruen Timothy Wong Dr. Oliver Prill Frances Ibe Thomas Boyd Sam Oakley #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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"In a new discussion paper, the U.K. central bank also said it wants to ensure stablecoins are interchangeable with the pound." Bank of England #stablecoins #digitalcurrency #digitalpound #cbdc #dlt #UK #centralbankdigitalcurrency #crypto #cryptoassets #digitalassets https://lnkd.in/gmnmHaCD

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𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤'𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐚𝐒, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮'𝐬 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭 All this and more in Edition #131 of the Future of Fintech Newsletter - Your Weekly Fintech Brew ☕ 🗞️ Last week in fintech: A surge in European fintech licensing highlights the region's growing regulatory clarity and competitive landscape. Simultaneously, the US market witnesses intensified embedded finance partnerships and a push towards digital currencies. Global payment giants are strategically aligning with emerging payment rails, while innovation in pricing and cross-border payments takes center stage. 👌🏽 Sip through the #Top3 fintech stories: ➊ Expansion of Payment Options and Cross-Border Payments ↳ Stripe's Adaptive Pricing and Nuvei's acquisition of Pay2all Services Private Limited indicate a growing emphasis on flexible and cross-border payment solutions. This trend is driven by the increasing globalisation of commerce and the demand for convenient payment methods. ➋ Regulatory Advancements and Strategic Licensing in Europe ↳ Both ClearBank and Mondu securing licences in Europe highlight the increasing regulatory scrutiny on fintech companies. Obtaining licenses, especially from reputable authorities like the European Central Bank and De Nederlandsche Bank, is becoming a crucial milestone for fintechs to establish trust, expand operations, and offer a wider range of financial services. ➌ Collaborations to Enhance Digital Payment Infrastructure ↳ Nacha’s partnership with Visa and Varo Bank’s collaboration with Marqeta underscore the strategic alliances being formed to strengthen digital payment infrastructures. Visa’s role in Nacha’s Preferred Partner Program aims to enhance the security and reliability of ACH payments, while Varo Bank’s deal with Marqeta focuses on financial inclusion and expanding access to digital banking services. 🔗 𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒! Dive into fintech learning resources waiting for you at the end, featuring: F-Prime Capital, EPAM Systems, Salt Edge, Mondu, and the latest from WhiteSight! ______________ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞-𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞. 🚀 🗞️ 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬: Get bite-sized insights that save you time, perfect for busy professionals on-the-go. Discover the latest fintech players and the trends shaping the industry. Gain valuable insights into the themes ecosystem players are leveraging to win. Ready to take a sip? Subscribe now and join our savvy fintech community! ➡️: https://lnkd.in/eBHWVkJq via WhiteSight #fintech #news #embeddedfinance #digitalfinance #openfinance #DeFi #infrastructurefinance #greenfinance

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The impact of the European elections on crypto regulation is significant, as the composition of the new European Parliament will shape future regulations. A pro-crypto parliament could expedite reforms to stimulate market growth, while a more conservative one might introduce further restrictions. Investors and market observers are closely monitoring the election outcomes, as they will directly influence investment strategies. The results will determine the future trajectory of cryptocurrencies in Europe, highlighting the pivotal role of this period for the sector. #Crypto #EU #InvestmentStrategies

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⭐ It's been a pleasure supporting Andrew MacKenzie and the Agant team in submitting their first policy response, to the Bank of England Discussion Paper on its approach to #innovation in #money and #payments. 🇬🇧 As an aspiring GBP sterling #stablecoin issuer, Agant's response focuses on the potential for innovation using stablecoins, the potential role of a privately-issued regulated #digitalPound, and how the UK can support the coexistence of regulated stablecoins with other new forms of #digitalmoney in a healthy and competitive ecosystem. ⚡ It's highly recommended reading for anyone who cares about the future of innovation in money in the UK - and globally!! #futureoffinance #futureofmoney #futureofpayments #digitalcurrency

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Finom Launches SEPA Direct Debit B2B Across Its EMI-Licensed Markets, Expanding Payment Options for European SMEs Read more: https://lnkd.in/dRr3Z2Ve #FINOM #SEPADirectDebit #B2BPayments #EuropeanSMEs #EMILicensedMarkets #finance #fintech #FinancialIT

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🌍 Crypto Adoption Gains Momentum in Czech Republic 🇨🇿 The Czech Republic is embracing the future with its progressive new reforms to support the crypto industry. Key updates include: ✅ Tax Exemptions: No capital gains tax for crypto holdings over 3 years and investments under $4,000. ✅ Banking Rights: A clear path for crypto companies to open bank accounts, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets. ✅ Alignment with MiCA: This forward-thinking approach positions the Czech Republic as a leader in the EU’s digital finance evolution. At Januar, we understand the struggle to access banking services, this is the problem we were founded to solve. Although Article 63 of PSD2 ensures Payment Institutions (PIs) the right to a bank account, our experience shows banks often resist, even when facing the risk of a lawsuit and there are so many ways, they can legally limit your business after you are a customer. This highlights the need for financial partners who understand your industry. 🔑 Why choose Januar? We offer a seamless, compliant solution tailored to VASPs in EEA countries. We offer IBANs, SEPA instant payments to/from third parties, Crypto custody and Conversion all in an intuitive UI and with great APIs. 💬 Let’s chat: Why risk reliance on hesitant banks when a specialized partner like Januar can provide the stability your business needs? Read more here: Czech Republic Crypto Reforms #CryptoAdoption #Fintech #VASPs #Januar Thanks to 🇸🇪 Jonas Wallenius for making me aware.

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