Things continue moving, with the sector pushing 2025 into full gear. Collaborations continued, with regulatory organizations ensuring compliance.
Headlines to take note of:
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- The CFTC approved dual products;
- Cboe launched a new equities index;
- PayPal’s PYUSD has a new partner;
- Taxfyle introduced an AI chatbot;
- Plus, the BIS pushed for a new standard;
- And much more!
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Of course, it’s your week in digital wealth!
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Wealthtech, Regtech, Regulatory, and Treasury
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)/Eurex
On January 6, the CFTC approved the trading of Eurex dividend options in America. EURO STOXX Banks Index Dividend Options and EURO STOXX 50 Index Dividend Options are now available to U.S. market participants.
Consequently, the move expands Eurex’s global footprint and improves access across the board.
Cboe Global Markets/Metaurus Advisors, LLC
Niche asset management firm Metaurus Advisors partnered with Cboe Global Markets to launch a new equity index. According to a January 7 announcement, the duo introduced the ‘Cboe U.S. Large-Mid Cap 100 Index (CEQX)’ on December 20, 2024.
The dollar-weighted index has 100 large-mid cap stocks and is the first of four in a dispersion-focused product portfolio.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Markets information solutions ecosystem S&P Global Market Intelligence revealed the addition of 4.6 million municipal securities to the ‘S&P Capital IQ Pro’ solution, bringing the offering’s municipal inclusion to almost 6 million securities.
The deployment includes insights, trading and reference data, and a birds-eye view of market liquidity conditions.
RIA Growth Catalyst/WealthFeed
Marketing and Wealthtech solutions were boosted with a partnership between prospecting-focused WealthFeed and RIA Growth Catalyst. The integration provides RIA Growth Catalyst’s users with enhanced data, including AI-driven insights and others.
Furthermore, the collaboration enables efficient access to below-the-surface data, improving odds for lead closing times.
Crypto, Blockchain, and Digital Assets
FV Bank International, Inc./PayPal
American-based FV Bank revealed the integration of the PYUSD stablecoin into its ecosystem on January 9. According to the press release, the PYUSD stablecoin is available to account holders.
Furthermore, outbound remittances are possible without external wallets.
AH Capital Management, LLC (Andreessen Horowitz, a16z)
Prominent crypto VC a16z has further pushed the sector with the Spring cohort of its Crypto Startup Accelerator (CSX). According to a January 8 announcement, the CSX Spring 2025 event will (expectedly) occur in San Francisco.
Applications have a February 7 deadline.
Grayscale Investments, LLC
Premier crypto asset manager Grayscale is reportedly expanding its operational footprint. In a January 9 announcement, Grayscale revealed that it is considering adding 39 digital assets to its portfolio.
Furthermore, the list includes AI-focused digital assets alongside smart contract-based tokens.
Fintech, Personal Finance, and Apps
The year started well with Taxfyle’s introduction of Luis, an AI-powered tax assistant. Taxfyle unveiled the offering on January 31.
Luis kickstarts the taxation process with several Q&As, increasing efficiency before Taxfyle’s ‘Tax Pro’ offering takes over. In addition, Taxfyle trained Luis using over 300 IRS and CPA publications.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)/Financial Data Exchange (FDX)
Consumers (now) have improved standards with the CFPB’s recognition of FDX as an open banking standards organization. The move follows FDX’s inception in October 2024.
Consequently, the nonprofit operates under the CFPB’s Personal Financial Data Rights framework.
Corporate treasury-focused Treasury 4 started the year with a bang with the launch of ‘Payments4,’ an offering designed to improve workflows for finance teams. Payments4 combines operational processes into a single ecosystem, providing firms with (improved) controls and single-view access.
Additionally, the offering enhances operational efficiency by vertically integrating interactions across departments.
Payments specialist Verifone took its game further with the launch of its new ecosystem, which includes hardware devices. Verifone introduced its biometrically-enabled ‘Verifone Tap’ software solution with its ‘Verifone Victa’ payment devices.
The Victa gadgets are ready-to-go and compatible with the Android 14 OS, while the ‘Verifone Tap SoftPOS’ offering has intelligent capabilities, including NFC and Tap-to-Pay functionalities.
Banking, Payments, and Infrastructure
NASA Federal Credit Union (FCU)/Alkami
NASA FCU tapped Alkami to improve its software ecosystem as part of ongoing digitization upgrades. The enhancements include improved mobile baking and card service additions.
In addition, the deployment features digital wallet integration for smooth transaction processing.
Thanks to a collaboration with FINBOA, FIs within Lumin Digital’s ecosystem can now offer automated dispute resolutions to their customers. The integration enables improved regulatory compliance for FIs.
Furthermore, FINBOA’s dispute resolution offering improves outcomes.
Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
The BIS Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) called for broader adoption of the ISO 20022 standard, which offers faster transaction processing and enhanced data handling.
The BIS CPMI also iterated its commitment to maintaining unified data payment standards until 2027.
InvestiFi, Inc./Bluestone Federal Credit Union (FCU)/United Financial Credit Union (FCU)
Premier Fintech Investifi had twin wins with seamless Investech integrations with Bluestone FCU and United FCU. The integrations enable members to trade in the markets directly from their bank accounts.
Moreover, members can also get started with as little as $1.
REtech, Insurtech and Investing
Outamation, Inc.
Niche Fintech Outmation introduced Outamate Mods, an offering that streamlines the loan modification process. Outamate Mods helps FIs improve loan adjustments with several features, leveraging an AI-powered engine.
Furthermore, the solution is modular-focused and aids mortgage servicing firms, allowing for easier deployments.
The Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company/Akur8
Insurance pricing strategies in the Gem State have improved thanks to a partnership between the Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company and boutique Insurtech Akur8. The cooperation enables improved, AI-focused pricing functionalities.
Additionally, the collaboration deploys Akur8’s ecosystem, enabling improved model actuarial functions.
Rocktop Technologies (Rocktop)
Irving, Texas-based Rocktop unveiled ‘ForeSight,’ an offering to (efficiently) manage foreclosures. ForeSight has several pace-setting features, including Assignment of Mortgage (AOM) process reviews, title evaluations, foreclosure summaries, and more.
Moreover, the AI-focused offering improves foreclosure cycles and creates new opportunities.
