Monzo Secures EU Banking Licence, Unlocking European Expansion
Monzo has secured a full EU banking licence, a pivotal milestone that enables the UK challenger bank to operate across the European Union without relying on partnerships or intermediaries. The move significantly strengthens Monzoโs long-term growth strategy as competition among digital banks intensifies. Ireland has been selected as the first expansion market, with an early waitlist already open to customers. This licence provides Monzo with regulatory credibility and operational flexibility in a post-Brexit landscape. For the broader fintech sector, it signals that well-capitalised neobanks are transitioning from domestic success stories to pan-European players. The development also raises the competitive bar for other challengers still operating under limited or passporting arrangements.
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Insight of the Day
๐๐ง๐-๐ญ๐จ-๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ค
I have been studying how global financial platforms stitch together payments, FX, accounts and payouts under one infrastructure. What Airwallex built is a good example of what an end to end money movement stack looks like in practice. Here is a simple breakdown of how the system works and how companies can use it.
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๐น ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Airwallex starts at the entry point. Businesses can accept money through cards, 160 plus local payment methods and bank transfers. Everything feeds into a single balance.
This is useful if you operate in multiple markets and want one operator to handle the processing and local acquiring.
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๐น ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
Once the money is in, the next step is FX. Airwallex routes conversions through its interbank liquidity partners and gives you the ability to convert inside the platform.
For multi market teams, the main advantage is predictable conversion logic and fewer external hops.
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๐น ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ
You get a multi currency wallet and global accounts. This allows you to collect, convert and hold funds in the currencies where you operate. Yield options are built on top of this layer.
If you are expanding into new regions, this reduces the need for local banking relationships in the early stage.
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๐น ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฌ
From there, funds can move out through two channels. Card issuing or bank transfers.
This makes the platform suitable for marketplaces, gig platforms, SaaS companies and any business that needs to pay out customers or suppliers across borders.
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๐น ๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ก
The stack is supported by local clearing systems like SEPA, NPP and FPS, global card networks and a compliance engine that sits behind everything. Airwallex holds 80 licences and permits globally which allows them to run multi entity operations in many regions without handing off processes to third parties.
Curated News
๐ณ Payments
Square Tests Cash Rounding as Penny Production Ends
Square is piloting a cash-rounding feature to help merchants manage transactions as the U.S. phases out penny production. The update aims to simplify cash handling while minimizing disruption for small businesses.
Source
Unipaas and Nayax Launch Integrated Card-Present Payments for UK SaaS
Unipaas has partnered with Nayax to deliver a fully embedded, card-present payments solution tailored for UK SaaS platforms. The collaboration enables software providers to offer seamless in-person payments alongside existing digital capabilities.
Source
Ottu and Mastercard Expand Local Payment Access Across the GCC
Ottu has teamed up with Mastercard to help enterprises scale across the GCC using localized payment methods. The partnership reduces friction for regional expansion while supporting global payment standards.
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Juspay Brings Visa Click to Pay to Brazil
Juspay has integrated Visa Click to Pay in Brazil, enabling faster and more secure online checkout experiences. The launch supports higher conversion rates while reducing cart abandonment.
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Xsolla Integrates Spenn in Rwanda and Zambia
Xsolla has integrated Spennโs payment ecosystem in Rwanda and Zambia to support developers and merchants. The move expands access to local digital wallets and strengthens regional payment infrastructure.
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๐ฆ Banking
HSBC Commits to Keeping Branches Open Until 2027
HSBC has pledged to keep all UK bank branches open until at least 2027. The move responds to political and customer pressure over access to in-person banking services.
Source
Zand Achieves ISO 27001 and 27701 Certifications
Digital lender Zand has become the first bank in the Middle East to achieve both ISO 27001 and 27701 certifications. The milestone underscores growing regulatory and security maturity in regional digital banking.
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๐ Fintech
Informed.IQ Raises $63M to Scale AI Loan Verification
Informed.IQ has secured $63 million in funding from Invictus to expand its AI-driven loan verification platform. The capital will support growth as lenders seek faster, more accurate underwriting.
Source
Fintech Hiring Surges Despite Rising UK Unemployment
UK fintech hiring has reached new highs even as overall unemployment rises. The trend highlights continued demand for digital finance talent amid industry transformation.
Source
Tyro Acquires Thriday to Expand SME Offerings
Australian payments firm Tyro has acquired fintech startup Thriday. The deal strengthens Tyroโs position in serving small and medium-sized businesses with integrated financial tools.
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GIC and Baillie Gifford Back South Koreaโs Toss
Global investors GIC and Baillie Gifford are reportedly backing South Korean fintech super-app Toss. The investment highlights continued confidence in large-scale consumer fintech platforms in Asia.
Source
๐ช Crypto
SBI Plans Yen-Based Stablecoin Launch in 2026
Japanโs SBI Group is preparing to launch a yen-denominated stablecoin in 2026. The initiative reflects growing institutional interest in regulated digital currencies.
Source
Tencent and Bitkub Partner on Digital Asset Services
Tencent has partnered with Thailandโs Bitkub to develop digital asset services. The collaboration signals increasing big-tech involvement in Southeast Asiaโs crypto ecosystem.
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Bitcoin Traders React to Potential Bank of Japan Rate Hike
Bitcoin markets saw renewed volatility as traders braced for a possible Bank of Japan rate hike. The sell-off underscores cryptoโs sensitivity to global macroeconomic signals.
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๐ WealthTech
Trading Technologies Acquires OpenGamma
Trading Technologies has acquired OpenGamma, a specialist in margin and capital optimization analytics. The deal strengthens its institutional risk and portfolio management capabilities.
Source
๐ Regulation & Compliance
Sardine and Helix Partner on Real-Time Fraud and Compliance
Sardine and Helix have partnered to deliver real-time fraud monitoring and compliance tools to sponsor banks. The collaboration addresses growing regulatory and risk management demands.
Source
๐งฉ Other
Starlingโs SaaS Arm Opens New London HQ
Starling Bankโs SaaS business has opened a new London headquarters alongside a major hiring push. The move reflects growing momentum in banking-as-a-service models.
Source
bunq Upgrades Its GenAI Financial Assistant
bunq has launched a more powerful version of its GenAI financial assistant. The upgrade enhances personalization and positions AI as a core feature of digital banking experiences.
Source
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