🔄 PayPal Shakes Up

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Hey Fintech Explorers—Welcome back to Money Explored, the essential Sunday newsletter to stay ahead in fintech!

February is wasting no time. Payments giants are reshuffling leadership, digital banks are eyeing America’s aging infrastructure, and crypto firms are making a bold grab for the future of AI agents.

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• PayPal shakes up the C-suite as branded checkout momentum fades. 🔄

• Starling Bank targets U.S. lenders with its core banking software play. 💪

• Crypto.com launches ai.com to put personal AI agents in consumers’ hands. 🤖

Plus: Goldman brings AI agents into core banking, Visa rolls out new small-business infrastructure, and fresh IPO momentum builds across LATAM and Europe.

You’ll also want to keep reading for this week’s sponsor, The Hustle Daily, and how regular people are turning AI tools into real income streams.

It’s all happening fast—and that’s just the start…

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Let’s dive in!

🌎 3 Major Stories

Dive into this week’s top Fintech developments.

PayPal Shuffles Leadership as Checkout Stalls 🔄

The Big Story 📰: PayPal is experiencing a major leadership shakeup, replacing CEO Alex Chriss with Enrique Lores, the current CEO of HP and chair of PayPal's board, effective March 1. This change comes on the heels of disappointing performance in branded checkout, a key metric that has seen a sharp decline, especially in the fourth quarter. Lores, who has led technology transformations at HP, aims to revitalize PayPal's e-commerce sector and improve brand performance, which accounts for half of the company's profits. The leadership transition arrives just before a disappointing earnings report, which did not meet analyst expectations and led to a 17% drop in PayPal's stock.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: This management change highlights the increasing pressure on PayPal to revamp its strategy and regain market strength, particularly in branded checkout, which is critical for investor confidence. With Lores at the helm, there's a potential shift toward more aggressive innovation and operational efficiency to adapt to the rapidly evolving payments landscape. For investors, fintech enthusiasts, and industry professionals, this transition signals a pivotal moment for PayPal, making it crucial to watch how it navigates competition and enhances its offerings in response to current challenges in the ecommerce market. The stakes are high, as PayPal's future success hinges on its ability to execute strategic changes effectively.

Starling Aims for US Banks with Software Power 💪

The Big Story 📰: Starling Bank is setting its sights on expanding into the U.S. by selling its digital banking software, Engine, to American lenders grappling with outdated technology. With advisors from Deloitte and PwC on board, Starling aims to target mid-tier banks and credit unions, capitalizing on a consolidation wave within regional markets. Sam Everington, Engine's CEO, believes the timing is right as U.S. banks transition from static systems. Despite challenges in scaling its consumer bank abroad, Starling is optimistic about achieving £100 million in annual recurring revenue as it competes with established system providers for market share.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: This move by Starling Bank showcases the shifting landscape of fintech, emphasizing the demand for innovative banking solutions in the U.S. The entry of foreign fintechs into the American market may spur more competition and lead to better services for consumers. For those in the fintech sector, this represents a prime opportunity to innovate and adapt as traditional banks grapple with disruptions. As Starling positions itself to potentially acquire a U.S. bank for license and integration, the overarching theme highlights the need for agility and resilience in navigating the fintech landscape.

Crypto.com Unveils ai.com: Your AI Agent Awaits! 🤖

The Big Story 📰: Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, is set to revolutionize the AI landscape with the launch of ai.com, a new platform aimed at empowering consumers to create their own personal AI agents. Set to debut on February 8, 2024, after a Super Bowl commercial, this user-friendly service allows anyone—regardless of tech expertise—to automate tasks ranging from trading stocks to organizing daily activities. Each AI agent will learn and develop capabilities, sharing improvements across the network, ensuring they become increasingly useful. At the heart of this innovation is a commitment to user privacy and control, establishing a new frontier in AI utility.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: The introduction of ai.com marks a significant evolution in how consumers interact with technology, emphasizing AI’s transition from mere chat functions to actionable agents capable of performing tasks autonomously. By lowering the barrier to entry and prioritizing user control, this platform has the potential to transform work processes, personal management, and even online dating. With Marszalek's ambitious vision for a decentralized network of agents, we may witness a dramatic shift in productivity and efficiency across sectors. For fintech professionals and enthusiasts, this development signals an exciting intersection of AI and everyday tasks, offering new opportunities for integration and innovation in digital finance solutions.