Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
Plata Hits $5 Billion Valuation After $405M Series C
Mexican challenger bank Plata reached a $5 billion valuation following a $405 million Series C funding round, becoming Latin America's most valuable private digital bank. Previously valued at $1.5 billion after Series A and $3.1 billion post-Series B.
TikTok Launches UK Creator Card with Visa
TikTok introduced a debit card for UK creators to manage earnings from LIVE and brand deals, partnered with Visa for better cash flow tracking. Visa's Lucy Demery highlighted faster access to income for reinvestment.
Kraken Parent Payward to Acquire Bitnomial for Up to $550M
Payward, Kraken's parent, agreed to buy digital asset derivatives exchange Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock, gaining key CFTC licenses. Deal expected to close in H1 2026, expanding regulated offerings.
K1x Raises $175M for AI-Native Private Markets Tax Data
AI platform K1x secured $175 million growth funding led by Sumeru Equity Partners, with Edison Partners participating; Sumeru takes majority stake. Funds support shift to cloud-native infrastructure for AI development.
Monk Secures $25M Series A for AI Accounts Receivable Automation
Monk, an AI-native AR platform, closed $25 million Series A co-led by Footwork and Acrew Capital, totaling $29 million raised. Follows $4 million seed in 2025.
Fintech Funding Totals $623M Across 17 Deals This Week
Seventeen fintech funding rounds raised $623 million, down from $806 million last week and $2.17 billion prior peak. US Q1 2026 funding grew 16% YoY to $11.1 billion; two deals over $100 million.
Tether Freezes $344 Million in USDT Amid Unlawful Activity
Tether froze over $344 million in two addresses in coordination with US OFAC and law enforcement. Reinforces zero-tolerance policy on criminal stablecoin use.
Singapore Imposes Crypto Exposure Caps on Banks
MAS set banks' crypto asset exposure to 2% of Tier 1 capital, 5% for linked products like tokenized assets and stablecoins. Rules introduced April 22.
XRP ETFs See $75M Inflows in April with Whale Activity
US spot XRP ETFs hold $1.08 billion; April inflows hit $75 million, latest day $3.89 million led by Franklin Templeton. Massive exchange outflows and whale moves signal bullish shift.
IRS Warns of AI-Driven Crypto Fraud Surge
IRS reports AI-fueled crypto theft spike, with $20 billion stolen from Americans in 2025, over 50% crypto-related. Launched tipline; one case lost $300,000 in $5 million scheme.
South Korea Advances CBDC and Tokenized Deposit Pilots
Bank of Korea launches Project Hangang Phase 2 for wholesale CBDC; regulatory sandbox for tokenized deposits for government expenses set for Q4 2026 rollout.
Blockchain Capital Seeks $700M for New Funds
Blockchain Capital aims to raise $700 million across two funds despite crypto market declines, per Benzinga report.