The industry pulse included user-friendly offerings with speed and security. Government interventions remained minimal as regulatory focus shifted towards expansion.
Headlines to take note of:
- BGC introduced a USD interest swap-focused product;
- S&P Global Market Intelligence revealed plans to shut down its Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) offering;
- The CFTC and the SEC pushed the deadline of the PF Form compliance to October 2026;
- PayPal announced peer-to-peer capabilities;
- Plus, there’s a new startup-focused scaling platform (read on to find out);
- And much more!
Of course, this is your week in digital wealth!
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Wealthtech, Regtech, Regulatory, and Treasury
BGC Group, Inc.
Premier brokerage BGC Group launched a fully electronic platform for trading U.S. dollar interest rate swaps. The new platform allows institutional clients to execute swap trades entirely online.
In addition, the system integrates real-time pricing, automated trade execution, and post-trade processing. BCG designed the setup to meet regulatory requirements, reduce operational risks, and improve liquidity.
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Industry research giant S&P Global Market Intelligence announced the sunset of its Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA) service. The firm will phase out the offering by the end of 2025.
Moreover, S&P has yet to provide its reasons for the move.
The SEC and CFTC officially extended the compliance deadline for the revised Form PF reporting requirements to October 1, 2026. The delay gives key players more time to prepare for the enhanced disclosure rules.
Furthermore, the updated Form PF mandates increased reporting of fund exposures, investment strategies, and counterparty risks.
IEX Group/SEC
America’s top regulator approved IEX Group’s proposal to launch an options exchange. The new IEX Options market will introduce a fully transparent auction model.
Additionally, the platform will feature periodic auctions rather than continuous trading.
Crypto, Blockchain, and Digital Assets
The Department of the Treasury
On September 18, the Treasury issued a press release announcing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for the proper implementation of the GENIUS Act. The Treasury intends to implement a framework for innovation.
Consequently, the public comment process has a deadline of October 17.
New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)/Bullish
Leading exchange Bullish secured a coveted New York BitLicense from the NYDFS. The regulatory approval allows Bullish to offer its digital asset exchange services to American customers.
Moreover, Bullish can now onboard U.S. institutions and retail users, offering spot trading and potentially expanding into tokenized securities and derivatives.
Canton Network/Receipts Depositary Corporation (RDC)
Finance infrastructure platform RDC joined the Canton Network as both a validator and a digital receipts (DR) depositary. RDC’s participation strengthens its infrastructure for tokenized assets.
As a DR depositary, RDC can issue digital receipts backed by real-world assets.
Fintech, Personal Finance, and Apps
E-Commerce giant PayPal introduced a new intuitive money transfer framework. The overhaul includes innovative routing technology, streamlined user experiences, and tighter integration with platforms including Venmo and Xoom.
Moreover, the deployment includes enhanced infrastructure that provides for peer-to-peer mechanisms.
Premier payments provider Visa launched Visa Private, a premium offering tailored for high-net-worth individuals. The initiative enables exclusive access to bespoke payment solutions, elite concierge services, and curated experiences.
Visa Private goes beyond traditional cardholder perks by integrating personalized wealth management tools, enhanced security features, and global lifestyle privileges.
Alibaba partnered with Slope to offer flexible payment options for U.S. business buyers at checkout. Buyers can access buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) solutions directly on Alibaba.com.
Moreover, the Slope platform leverages AI-driven underwriting and real-time approvals to enhance the customer experience.
Banking, Payments, and Infrastructure
Global payments network SWIFT unveiled an AI-driven blueprint that helps banks detect and prevent fraud. The initiative leverages machine learning and real-time data sharing to identify suspicious patterns across institutions and geographies.
Furthermore, the innovation builds on the SWIFT global network and introduces a framework for secure, privacy-focused data exchange.
CLS Group/U.S. Bank
Financial giant U.S. Bank announced its participation in the CLSSettlement platform to mitigate FX transaction risks. The CLSSettlement global system mitigates settlement risk by ensuring the simultaneous settlement of each FX trade.
Additionally, U.S. Bank gains access to secure and efficient settlement infrastructure, improving outcomes.
Cync Software/Live Oak Bank
Wilmington, North Carolina-based Live Oak Bank deployed loan-focused Cync Software’s solution to modernize its commercial lending operations. The move enhances efficiency, transparency, and borrower experiences.
Consequently, the integration enables streamlined loan management, automated workflows, and improved data accessibility across its lending ecosystem.
Alpha AI Inc. (8alpha.ai)
8alpha.ai officially launched with the ambitious goal of building an AI-native bank tailored for startups. The platform provides intelligent financial services that adapt to the rapidly evolving, data-driven needs of early-stage companies.
Moreover, the offering has artificial intelligence integrations at every layer of its banking infrastructure. The deployment also automates cash flow forecasting, optimizes capital allocation, and provides real-time financial insights.
REtech, Insurtech, and Investing
ZestyAI/Southern Oak Insurance Company
Southern Oak Insurance partnered with ZestyAI to enhance its property risk assessment capabilities. The collaboration enables Southern Oak to leverage ZestyAI’s predictive analytics to gain deeper insights into property conditions.
Additionally, the move enables Southern Oak to accurately assess risk factors, including roof condition, proximity to vegetation, and wildfire exposure.
Appian joined forces with InsureMO to streamline insurance operations. The partnership enables insurers to build, deploy, and scale custom applications.
Furthermore, carriers can accelerate product launches, improve operational efficiency, and adapt to market demands.
Sapiens International Corporation/Encova Mutual Insurance Group
Encova Insurance teamed up with Sapiens to accelerate software updates and enhance its operational agility. The collaboration streamlines system upgrades, slashes deployment times, and boosts responsiveness across its workflows.
Additionally, the move enables swift adaptation to regulatory changes and evolving customer needs.
Accelerant Holdings/AF Group (AF Specialty)
AF Specialty collaborated with Accelerant to strengthen its ecosystem and expand its underwriting capabilities. AF Specialty can access analytics and streamlined operations via the Accelerant insurance risk exchange.
In addition, the partnership enables efficient operations, improved underwriting, and flexible solutions for clients.
