Ramp Surges to $32B Valuation with Lightspeed-Led $300M Round
Ramp has secured a $300M funding round led by Lightspeed, boosting its valuation to $32B as it accelerates growth across spend management, procurement, and automation. Investor confidence remains strong despite a cautious B2B fintech environment, reflecting Rampโs momentum in enterprise financial operations. The company plans to expand internationally and deepen its AI-driven finance stack. This positions Ramp as a leading operating system for corporate finance teams. The raise also signals renewed enthusiasm in the fintech infrastructure sector.
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8 ๐๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐
๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ
Stablecoins arenโt just a crypto-native tool anymore โ theyโre quietly becoming the new rails of global finance.
This chart by Rui from SevenX Ventures perfectly captures where the next major opportunities lie โ from institutional-grade innovation to grassroots adoption in emerging markets.
Letโs break it down ๐
๐น 1. The Institutional Frontier
RWA for Reserve Yield: Real-world assets (RWA) are turning stablecoin reserves into yield-generating machines โ with double-digit returns and manageable risk.
Distributor-Issued Stablecoins: Think Stripe, PayPal, or Robinhood โ fintechs issuing their own stablecoins to power payments, deposits, and cross-border transfers.
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๐น 2. The Big Market Plays
Foreign Exchange Platforms: Traditional FX handles $7.5T daily โ imagine even a fraction of that volume settling via stablecoins.
Licensed Issuers: Regulated players bring credibility, transparency, and interoperability into the stablecoin ecosystem.
Curated News
๐ณ Payments
PayU Secures RBI Approval to Operate as Payment Aggregator
PayU has received RBI approval to operate as a payment aggregator, enabling it to onboard new merchants. The license strengthens its position in Indiaโs fast-growing digital payments ecosystem.
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GCash Rolls Out PocketPay via BPC SmartVista
GCash is launching PocketPay using BPCโs SmartVista to deliver faster and more secure wallet transactions. The upgrade supports more scalable next-gen mobile payments in the Philippines.
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FAB and Thunes Enable Real-Time Cross-Border Wallet Transfers
First Abu Dhabi Bank and Thunes have partnered to launch real-time wallet-to-wallet cross-border payments. The collaboration enhances remittance speed and financial inclusion.
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Paysafe: Holiday Shoppers Prioritize Flexible, Secure Payments
A Paysafe survey shows consumers are increasingly seeking flexible and secure payment options, especially for experience-based holiday purchases. Retailers are encouraged to diversify checkout methods.
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Mastercard & Zenith Bank Launch Essential Debit Card in Nigeria
Mastercard and Zenith Bank introduced a low-cost Essential Debit Card to expand digital payment access. The card targets underserved consumers with affordable transaction options.
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TransferMate Receives MAS Approval to Enhance Payment Services
TransferMate has received MAS approval to vary its MPI license, enabling expanded cross-border payment capabilities. This strengthens its regulatory position in Singapore.
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Airwallex Joins EPI to Support Wero Unified Digital Wallet
Airwallex is now a principal member of the European Payments Initiative, helping deliver the Wero digital wallet across Europe. The move advances Europeโs sovereign payments strategy.
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Paysecure Partners with Approvely to Boost U.S. Processing
Paysecure and Approvely are collaborating to improve U.S. payments processing infrastructure. The partnership aims to deliver more efficient and secure transaction flows.
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๐ฆ Banking
Aspire Launches Premium Plan for Entrepreneurs and SMEs
Aspire introduced a Premium Plan offering smarter savings tools and global perks tailored for entrepreneurs. The launch strengthens its position as a leading SME-focused neobank.
Source
๐ผ Fintech
Klarnaโs Q3 Loss Widens to $95M as It Expands into Lending
Klarna reported a $95M Q3 loss driven by increased investment in conventional lending. The shift beyond BNPL comes with higher short-term costs but positions the firm for broader credit offerings.
Source
Klarna Signs $6.5B Deal to Power Fair Financing in the U.S.
Klarna will support Fair Financingโs hypergrowth through a $6.5B agreement, expanding its U.S. presence. The deal reinforces Klarnaโs push into large-scale credit infrastructure.
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Teybridge Capital Acquires London Fintech Atom CTO
Teybridge Capital Europe has acquired Atom CTO, expanding its advisory and digital transformation capabilities. The acquisition strengthens its fintech service portfolio.
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Finastra Modernizes UCC Filing Through New Partnerships
Finastra is streamlining the UCC filing process via new dynamic partnerships, improving automation for lenders. The initiative simplifies a traditionally manual workflow.
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Rimes Partners with Databricks for Managed Data Services
Rimes and Databricks have partnered to deliver managed data services that improve analytics, governance, and scale for financial institutions. The integration supports cloud-native data architectures.
Source
Bloomberg Expands Pricing Coverage for Australian Bonds
Bloomberg has enhanced its Australian bond data with intraday updates and improved curves. The expansion boosts transparency and trading insights for institutional investors.
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Broadridge Enables Societe Generaleโs First U.S. Digital Bond
Broadridgeโs tokenization technology powered Societe Generaleโs first U.S. digital bond issuance. The milestone highlights growing institutional adoption of blockchain-based securities.
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๐ช Crypto
Kraken Raises $800M at a $20B Valuation
Kraken secured $800M in funding, lifting its valuation to $20B as demand for regulated exchanges rises. The funds will support expansion into new products and markets.
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Grab & StraitsX Launch Web3 Wallet and Stablecoin Settlements
Grab and StraitsX have partnered to integrate Web3 wallet capabilities with stablecoin settlement tools. The move accelerates mainstream digital asset adoption in Southeast Asia.
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Revolut Integrates Polygon for Zero-Fee Remittances & Staking
Revolut has integrated Polygon to offer zero-fee remittances, staking, and crypto payments. The update expands its blockchain-powered financial services footprint.
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Bitcoin ATM Founder Charged in $10M Laundering Case
Authorities have charged a Bitcoin ATM company founder with laundering more than $10M. The case highlights intensifying regulatory scrutiny on crypto cash infrastructure.
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๐ฐ WealthTech
Digital Assets Forum Expands to Two-Day Event in London
The Digital Assets Forum is doubling in length to a two-day conference, bringing together traditional finance and digital asset leaders. The expansion reflects rising institutional engagement in crypto.
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๐ Regulation
B20 South Africa Workshop Boosts SME Ethical Practices
The B20 Integrity Workshop is helping SMEs adopt stronger ethical frameworks and governance standards. The initiative supports healthier business ecosystems in emerging markets.
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