🌍 SWIFT Goes Blockchain

Together with

Fintech’s eating the world—don’t get left behind in 2025! If you haven’t already, check out our FREE Spot The Next Big Fintech Guide

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

This week, a payments giant embraces blockchain to modernize the world’s money flows, Latin America’s biggest digital bank targets the U.S., and a card titan unveils its boldest AI play yet. You’ll also want to keep reading for this week’s sponsor, Proton Mail—the privacy-first alternative that lets you ditch Gmail’s data grab for good.

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• SWIFT takes blockchain global to modernize cross-border payments. 🌍

• Nubank applies for a U.S. bank charter, expanding beyond Latin America. 🇺🇸

• Visa unveils an AI-driven hub to simplify commercial payments. 💡

Plus: A central bank’s AI push to combat fraud, an AI giant rewiring e-commerce, and a digital bank weighing a record-breaking dual listing.

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

First time reading? Sign up here to join 10,000+ readers staying ahead in fintech every Sunday.

Let’s dive in!

🌎 3 Major Stories

Dive into this week’s top Fintech developments.

SWIFT Teams Up to Transform Global Payments 🌍

The Big Story 📰: SWIFT, the global financial messaging network, is embarking on a blockchain-driven transformation alongside over 30 of the world's top banks. This initiative aims to overhaul cross-border payments, enabling real-time transactions that eliminate the current delays and high costs associated with international money transfers. By developing a shared digital ledger, SWIFT seeks to modernize its services to accommodate emerging forms of digital money, including stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The initiative is poised to leverage SWIFT’s extensive network that spans over 200 countries, connecting more than 11,000 banks globally.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: This ambitious move by SWIFT and its banking partners indicates a significant shift in the landscape of international finance. By modernizing payment systems and integrating blockchain technology, SWIFT could dramatically improve the efficiency and affordability of cross-border transactions. As stablecoins and CBDCs gain traction, this initiative positions SWIFT to stay relevant in an evolving market, addressing criticisms of being "antiquated." For fintech enthusiasts and investors, this signals an opportunity to engage with a reshaped financial infrastructure that could redefine global money movement and increase competition in the space.

Nubank Eyes U.S. Market with New Bank Charter 🇺🇸

The Big Story 📰: Brazilian digital bank Nubank is taking a significant leap by applying for a national bank charter to operate in the U.S. This move marks its first major expansion outside Latin America and aligns with its goal of evolving into a global banking model. Nubank has grown rapidly since its inception over a decade ago, boasting over 120 million customers across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. CEO David Velez emphasized that while the company focuses on growth in its existing markets, the U.S. application aims to meet the needs of consumers there and provide services such as deposit accounts and lending. This initiative comes as Nubank’s shares saw a spike following the announcement, reinforcing its position as a leading lender in Latin America.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: Nubank’s pursuit of a U.S. bank charter is a game-changer for both the company and the broader fintech landscape. This expansion not only signifies Nubank's ambition to tap into the lucrative American market but also highlights the growing trend of digital banks moving beyond their home regions to capture new customer bases. For fintech investors and enthusiasts, this is a prime opportunity to watch how Nubank navigates regulatory landscapes and develops tailored financial products for U.S. consumers. The firm's move signifies a shift in the competitive landscape, potentially prompting other fintech players to re-evaluate their growth strategies as the demand for innovative banking solutions continues to increase internationally.

Visa's VCS Hub: The Future of Smart Payments 💡

The Big Story 📰: Visa has officially launched the Visa Commercial Solutions (VCS) Hub, a revolutionary platform that aims to transform commercial payments for issuers and fintechs. This cutting-edge system integrates next-generation AI capabilities to simplify complex payment processes, enabling seamless and intelligent payment experiences. The VCS Hub offers an end-to-end payables solution, allowing users to manage invoice and supplier payments efficiently. With features like AI-powered workflows and embedded payment integrations, the platform is designed for flexibility and automation, promising to reshape how businesses handle financial transactions and access valuable insights.

Key Takeaway ⚡️: The launch of the VCS Hub highlights Visa's commitment to innovating within the commercial payments landscape. By utilizing AI to streamline operations, Visa is not only enhancing user experiences but also enabling issuers and fintechs to surpass legacy systems. This move represents a significant opportunity for companies to leverage intelligent payment solutions, unlock new revenue streams, and drive more effective decision-making. As the fintech space increasingly leans towards automation and integration, the VCS Hub sets a standard for what modern and efficient commercial payment technology should look like, making this an essential development for industry stakeholders to follow.

🔍 What Else We’re Watching

Keep an eye on these evolving Fintech Narratives.

• ECB Taps AI to Combat Digital Euro Fraud 💳: The European Central Bank (ECB) is teaming up with Portuguese AI startup Feedzai to tackle fraud risks associated with its upcoming digital euro. This contract, valued at up to €237.3 million, will deploy an AI model that assesses digital payment transactions based on customer behavior patterns. With this initiative, the ECB aims to bolster its digital currency strategy against major players like Visa and Mastercard, promoting euro zone financial independence. Meanwhile, Feedzai recently secured $75 million in funding, further solidifying its position in the fintech space.

• OpenAI's Instant Checkout: A Game Changer for Merchants 🛒: OpenAI has unleashed a new feature that enables users to make purchases directly through ChatGPT, in collaboration with Etsy and Shopify. This innovation not only provides a seamless shopping experience for users, eliminating the need for links or redirects, but also generates a new revenue stream for OpenAI via merchant fees on completed sales. Customers can now buy from over a million Shopify merchants, including popular brands like Glossier and SKIMS. As shares of both Etsy and Shopify surged, this partnership hints at the future of AI in e-commerce.

• Revolut Considers $75B Dual Listing! 💼: Revolut is mulling a dual listing in New York and London, potentially marking a significant shift in founder Nik Storonsky's stance on London IPOs. With a valuation of £55 billion, this blockbuster share sale could make it one of the top 15 UK companies. Recent changes now allow firms like Revolut to fast-track into the FTSE 100. Storonsky has emphasized his commitment to the UK, especially during the unveiling of their new Canary Wharf office. The move not only aims to enhance visibility but also aligns with the government's push to make Britain a premier business hub.

💸 Major Money Moves

Tracking big market shifts in Fintech this week.

• Viamericas Raises $113.6M for Global Expansion 🌎: Viamericas, a frontrunner in remittance services, has secured $113.6 million to boost its global money transfer network, now spanning 95 countries. This funding, led by Old National Bank, will help enhance digital payment platforms that support families in sending money securely. With over 300,000 payout locations and partnerships with major banks, Viamericas aims to meet the growing demand for swift cross-border payments. As remittances become increasingly vital for economic stability, Viamericas is poised to strengthen its position as a trusted financial partner for families worldwide.

• Baselane Secures $34M to Revolutionize Real Estate 💼: Baselane, a proptech innovator, has just raised $34 million in funding, boosting its mission to simplify financial management for real estate investors. Led by Thomvest Ventures with a $20 million infusion in Series B, along with $14 million in Series A backing from Matrix Partners, this funding will supercharge product development and go-to-market strategies. Baselane recently introduced AI-powered automation tools that aim to address the often-overlooked challenges in real estate finance. According to Thomvest’s Don Butler, this could fundamentally change how investors manage their properties.

• Bite Investments Scores $25M from NewSpring 🚀: Bite Investments has secured a $25 million growth investment from US-based NewSpring Capital, aimed at scaling its innovative Bite Stream platform. This new funding builds on previous rounds, including a $3 million seed round in 2020. Founded in 2019, Bite Investments focuses on offering an end-to-end SaaS solution for alternative asset managers and family offices, simplifying fundraising, reporting, and investor relations. With plans to grow its team of 70 and following a strategic merger with Untap, Bite Investments is set to enhance its service offerings significantly while navigating the competitive fintech landscape.

Thanks for reading and have a relaxing Sunday,

Derek,
Editor, Money Explored.