Kraken launches payments app to compete with Cash App & Venmo 😳💸; Revolut expands into Argentina through Cetelem acquisition 🏦🇦🇷; Starling Bank eyes US market entry 👀🇺🇸
FinTech is Eating the World, 27 June
Hey Everyone,
Good morning & happy Friday! Another amazing FinTech week is about to end, and we’re closing it with some fascinating developments from three different financial technology giants 👏 Today we’re looking into Kraken, which just launched a payments app to compete with Cash App & Venmo (what it’s all about & why it matters for the crypto platform + bonus dives into Kraken & its biggest competitor Coinbase), Revolut that’s expanding into Argentina through Cetelem acquisition (why it’s a brilliant move & what’s next for the FinTech giant + bonus dives into Revolut & its biggest Argentine rival Mercado Libre), and Starling Bank that’s now eying US market entry (why it’s a smart move & what’s next for Starling + bonus deep dive into Starling bank & how it’s leveraging AI today). Let’s jump straight into the intriguing stuff 🌶️
Kraken launches payments app to compete with Cash App & Venmo 😳💸
The (unexpected?) news 🗞️ Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has just launched Krak, a comprehensive financial services application that represents the company's most ambitious expansion beyond traditional digital asset trading to date.
The platform enables users to send and receive both crypto and fiat currencies across more than 110 countries, positioning Kraken as a direct competitor to established payment platforms, including PayPal’s PYPL 0.00%↑ Venmo and Block’s XYZ 0.00%↑ Cash App.
Let’s take a closer look at this, understand the rationale behind it, and see what’s next for Kraken.