Sitemap - 2024 - Linas's Newsletter

Block’s solid Q1 2024 performance and future potential 🚀; Mercado Libre’s latest financials show that Latin America's e-commerce & FinTech powerhouse is poised for continued growth 📈

Coinbase solidifies market leadership despite regulatory headwinds 😤; Wallet-as-a-Service startup Ansa raises $14M to empower small businesses with digital wallets 👛

Mastercard's global reach and digital dominance drive sustained growth in Q1 2024 📈; Stablecoins surge, challenging traditional payment giants 🚀

PayPal's solid Q1 2024 results show promising signs of transformation amidst the transition year 📈; SoFi's diversification strategy drives profitability amidst macro uncertainties 💸

Key takeaways for FinTech leaders from Warren Buffett’s favorite CEO letter 🧠; 𝕏 secures money transmitter licenses in 25 states, paving the way for Elon Musk's Everything App 😳

“You either die a FinTech or live long enough to see yourself selling ads” - Revolut 📢💸; Monzo Flex captures 20% of UK's BNPL market 😳; Klarna sells Hero in a strategic shift 💸🤝

Monzo's 'Flex' Card captures 20% of UK's BNPL market 😳; Franklin Templeton enables peer-to-peer transfers for tokenized treasury fund 💸; Regional banks face profitability challenges 🏦

Adyen's resilient growth crowned with market selloff: a brilliant buying opportunity for long-term investors? 🤔; Stripe brings back crypto payments with USDC stablecoin 😳

Visa's strong Q2 2024 results demonstrate resilience and growth potential 🚀; AI-powered marketing - the future of consumer engagement in banking? 🤔

Fiserv: a FinTech Powerhouse poised for sustained growth 📈🚀; “You either die a FinTech or live long enough to see yourself selling ads” - Revolut 📢💸

Towards AI-driven Finance: Apple acquires another AI startup to boost on-device LLM processing 🍎🤖; Klarna sells Hero's assets to Bambuser in a strategic shift 💸🤝

Is Revolut now worth 45% more?! 🤔; Hong Kong approves spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, positioning itself as a crypto hub 🇭🇰; Nubank ventures into telco business 📞🟣

Telegram to allow Tether payments 🪙; State Street explores the acquisition of Societe Generale's custody arm 👀

The impact of Bitcoin's upcoming halving 💎⚒️; Credit card delinquencies rise in Q1 2024, signaling prolonged recovery 💳📈; Is Revolut now worth 45% more?! 🤔

No IPO soon? Stripe raises $694 million in a share sale 🤑💸; Klarna doubles down on the US with a credit card launch 💳🇺🇸

Wise demonstrates robust growth, but the stock is down 😔; Nubank ventures into telco business 📞🟣

Hong Kong approves spot Bitcoin & Ether ETFs, aiming to be a crypto hub 🇭🇰; Convergence of TradFi & Crypto: Germany's largest state bank partners with Bitpanda 🤝; Goldman Sachs reports strong Q1 📈

Nubank partners with Wise to launch a global account & tap into travel banking 🌍💳; Robinhood unveils new media arm Sherwood News to expand beyond trading 📰; Most active Q1 VCs 💸

BlackRock's assets soar to a record $10.5T. Thanks to Bitcoin 😳; Revolut secures RBI approval for prepaid payment instruments in India 🇮🇳; Most active Q1 Venture Investors 💸

Turning point for DeFi regulation? Uniswap faces potential SEC lawsuit 😳; SVB 2.0? California banks face huge risks just one year after the biggest bank collapse in America since 2008 🫣

Coinbase's Layer 2 network Base thrives as interest in crypto surges 🚀; Robinhood launches new media arm Sherwood News to expand beyond trading 📰

Making Siri Great Again: Apple's ReALM aims to revolutionize voice assistants for smarter finance and beyond 🎙️🤖; Deepfakes: the next frontier of financial fraud 🦹‍♂️

Match made in heaven: Nubank launches global account with Wise to expand travel banking 🌍💳; Klarna launches 'Wikipink' to promote transparency and challenge traditional credit models 📊💵

Global venture funding shows signs of cautious recovery in Q1 2024 😌📈; The Billion-Dollar (FinTech) Marketer: lessons from Ryan Reynolds💡

Ripple joins stablecoin rush with plans for USD-pegged token 😲💸; Global venture funding shows signs of cautious recovery in Q1 2024 😌📈

HUGE: PayPal enables PYUSD for international payments 💸; ClearBank hits profitability amid rising interest rates & expanding customer base 📈; Coinbase is first licensed crypto exchange in Canada 🍁

The Billion-Dollar (FinTech) Marketer: lessons from Ryan Reynolds💡; JPMorgan launches Ad Platform & enters the media business 😳; Revolutionizing AI risk management in financial services 💸

Apple Card Savings account rate dips for first time since launch 😳; Nuvei to go private in $6.3B acquisition by Advent International 😳

Top resources for building and scaling billion-dollar startups 🦄

SEC wins ruling allowing a lawsuit against Coinbase 👀; Chime gears up for 2025 IPO 🚀; Binance exec flees Nigeria amidst tax evasion charges & regulatory crackdown 😳🇳🇬

AI is supercharging parametric insurance & transforming risk management 🤖; Decentralizing data for Web3 & beyond 🕸️; US Treasury raises alarm on growing cyber threats from AI adoption in finance 😳

BlackRock is igniting institutional crypto revolution 📈; Western Union copies Revolut as it unveils global eSIM service 😳; SEC wins ruling allowing a lawsuit against Coinbase 👀

Robinhood’s new credit card goes after Apple in a push to become the primary financial hub 💳; Chime gears up for 2025 IPO as neobank's growth surges 🚀

Visa & Mastercard reach $30B settlement in swipe fee battle, but it’s far from over 😤; Qonto expands business banking offerings with new "Pay Later" financing solution 💸

Digital remittances poised to transform Latin America's financial landscape 💸🌎; Binance executive flees Nigeria amidst tax evasion charges and regulatory crackdown 😳🇳🇬

JPMorgan bets big on Biometric Payments to revolutionize retail checkout 🖐️💳; Will Robinhood's 3rd attempt to conquer the UK pay off? 🤔; ChatGPT buzz raises the bar for banking chatbots 🤖

BlackRock embraces Ethereum with launch of tokenized fund 😳; ChatGPT buzz raises the bar for banking chatbot capabilities 🤖; Gen Z's growing spending power & their love for Apple Pay in shopping 🍎

HUGE: the DOJ is suing Apple for antitrust. What it means for FinTech? 🤔; Bolt and Checkout.com team up to make online shopping a breeze. M&A to follow? 👀

Inside dLocal’s 2023 financials: emerging markets FinTech trailblazer poised for sustainable growth 🚀; Nuvei considers going private 😲

Robinhood's third attempt to conquer the UK: will persistence pay off? 🤔; Shift4 Payments CEO rejects takeover bids 😤; Revolut streamlines hospitality payments with new POS 👀

Apple is getting into LLMs: here’s how their MM1 can revolutionize multimodal AI & drive innovation across ecosystems 🤖🍎; JPMorgan bets big on Biometric Payments to transform retail checkout 🖐️💳

Bitcoin refuses to stop climbing 🤯📈; Revolut's valuation takes a massive hit amid endless licensing delays 📉😳; Paytm's path to survival: securing vital license amid regulatory shutdown threat ✅🏦

PayPal goes all-in on crypto remittances 🚀; Public Square acquires Credova to expand BNPL options for conservative customers 💸; Klarna co-founder acquires large stake through offshore entity 👀

Navigating the crowded merchant payment provider landscape 🧭💳; Paytm's path to survival: securing vital license amid regulatory shutdown threat ✅🇮🇳

Stripe's growth continues as it passes $1 trillion in payments volume 😳; N26 turbocharges European expansion with high-yield savings accounts 💸

Pix is dominating & reshaping Brazil's payment landscape 🚀🇧🇷; Ethereum's Dencun upgrade: a seismic shift towards scalability & affordability ♢♦️; Revolut's valuation takes a massive hit 😳📉

Crypto frenzy ignites Coinbase's resurgence: a meteoric rise and new frontiers ahead 🚀💸; Bitcoin refuses to stop climbing 🤯📈

Monzo's fresh $5B valuation & ambitious yet questionable US expansion 🇺🇸; Deel buys PaySpace to expand in Africa 🌍; JPM's missed "MASSIVE" opportunity: Discover deal that wasn't meant to happen 😳

Apple is dabbling in Open Banking even more with the new FinanceKit API 📱💳; JPMorgan's missed "company-changing" opportunity: the Discover deal that wasn't meant to happen 😳💸

Nationwide's £2.9B bid to reshape UK banking landscape 🇬🇧🏦; Qonto continues FinTech consolidation with Regate deal 🤝💸; Deel acquires PaySpace to expand global payroll & HR services in Africa💰🌍

Dave hits profitability: disciplined FinTech disruptor with untapped growth potential 🐻📈; PayPal expands global payment solutions for small businesses with new all-in-one platform 💳🌍

Bitcoin breaks records again: the relentless rally fueled by institutional demand 📈💸; Monzo's fresh $5 billion valuation and ambitious yet questionable US expansion plans 💰🇺🇸

Klarna's Resurrection: narrowing losses and preparing for the biggest IPO of 2024 🤑🔔

Kraken launches Institutional Arm to capitalize on surging Bitcoin ETF demand 💸🫡; Webull to go public in $7.3B SPAC deal 😲; Affirm sets sights on UK expansion and beyond 🚀🇬🇧

FinTech M&A is heating up: Fiserv & Amadeus battle for Shift4 in a $9B deal 😳💸; Apple to share BNPL data with Experian, impacting credit reports 💳🍎; Affirm eyes UK expansion & beyond 🚀🇬🇧

HSBC's new FX app Zing shows slow growth 📉😬; Mastercard streamlines account opening with open banking 👐🏦; Kraken launches Institutional Arm to capitalize on surging Bitcoin ETF demand 💸🫡

Stripe's valuation rebounds to $65 billion as payments giant buys back employee shares 😮‍💨; Webull to go public in $7.3 billion SPAC deal 😲

Klarna replaces 700 human agents with ChatGPT as it prepares for $20 billion IPO in 2024 😳; Ether overtakes Bitcoin as top institutional crypto asset 📈

Block delivers strong 2023 results and sets sights on consumer banking growth 🏦📈

DONE DEAL: Capital One to acquire Discover for $35B 🤯; A perfect match: Adyen partners with Billie to offer B2B BNPL for European businesses💳; Ethereum faces a critical $3,000 resistance level 📈

Nubank delivers strong growth & profitability, and is positioned to unlock substantial value for investors 🟣🚀

Perfect match: Adyen partners with Billie to offer B2B BNPL for European businesses 🤝💳; Mastercard's bringing crypto rewards to emerging world 🪙🌍; ETH faces a critical $3,000 resistance level 👀📈

Signing in with Klarna to profitability and hot secondary shares 💸📈; Ethereum staking and concentration risks ahead of ETF approvals 👀🤲

OFFICIAL: Capital One to acquire Discover for $35 billion 🤯🤑; PayPal’s first AI investment 💸🤖; Monzo nears $5 billion valuation in new funding round 😳💰

Capital One nears deal to acquire Discover Financial for $28 billion 😳; Revolut to launch advanced crypto exchange 👀

Monzo Magic: UK challenger bank reaches 9 million customer milestone 🪄; Revolut takes on telecoms with eSIM launch 😮📱; Plaid appoints first president as it eyes IPO 🔔

Coinbase's Strategic Leap: strong 2023 earnings signal bright prospects for 2024 and beyond 🤑🚀; Robinhood posts surprise profit in Q4 2023, eyes return to growth 😳📈

Temenos shares plunge after damning report alleges accounting irregularities and failed products 😨📉; Bakkt gets a lifeline after cash crunch 🤕

Monzo Magic: UK challenger bank reaches 9M customer milestone 🪄; Ripple is playing the long game: acquires crypto custody provider in the US 🤝💸; Plaid appoints first president as it eyes IPO 🔔

Payments are eating Shopify while Shopify is eating FinTech 🛍️💳; Peak ZIRP: how Bolt went from $11 billion valuation to being worth just $300 million 😳

Affirm stock surges on strong Q2 results: is now the time to buy? 🤔📈; Revolut takes on telecoms with eSIM launch 😮📱

Elon Musk’s 𝕏 soars to Top Spot in App Store after Carlson-Putin interview announcement 😲; Nubank simplifies passive investing with new investment product 💸; Paytm’s turmoil after RBI crackdown 😵

PayPal delivers strong Q4 results, but 2024 outlook (kinda) disappoints 🤔; Official: Mastercard makes strategic FinTech investment in Africa's MTN 🔴🟠; Nubank is simplifying passive investing 💸

Adyen's strong 2023 performance and outlook for continued growth 🚀; The decline of the ATM: how banks could lose Gen Z customers 📉🏦

Elon Musk’s 𝕏 soars to Top Spot in App Store after Carlson-Putin interview announcement 😲; JPMorgan doubles down on growing the old-fashioned way: branches 🏦; Entrust to acquire Onfido for $400M 💸

Nubank aims to become Latin America's largest financial services company 🏦⚛️; Paytm’s turmoil after RBI crackdown 😵

Strong growth for Mastercard despite macro headwinds 📈; Deepfakes trick finance worker into $25 million scam 😳

Ramp is ramping up M&A: acquires AI startup to expand further into procurement 💸; The future of InsurTech? Allianz acquires struggling Luko💰; Rising credit card delinquencies 📈

Apple Card thrives 5 years in, but what's next? 🤔; Goodbye, Paytm? Paytm Payments Bank's demise and the future of digital payments in India 💳🇮🇳

PayPal’s strategic investment in crypto transfer platform 💰; Venture Capitalists amass a whopping $311 billion in dry powder 😳

The only way is up? Fidelity marks up the value of Elon Musk's 𝕏 by 11% 🤑; SEC is likely to approve spot Ethereum ETFs. What should investors expect? 🤔; Rising credit card delinquencies 📈

Ramp is ramping up M&A: acquires AI Startup to expand further into procurement 💸; Regional banks' struggles open door for FinTech partnerships 🏦; Coatue cuts 2023 deal count 82% from 2021 high 👀

Visa's strong Q1 2024 results and outlook despite macroeconomic headwinds 📈; The future of InsurTech? Allianz acquires struggling Luko 💸

Klarna launches subscription service ahead of expected IPO 💳; Towards End-to-End Ownership: Fiserv seeks special bank charter 🏦; Apple's EU concession unlikely to dent Apple Pay's dominance 🍎

The payments industry faces a pivotal year amid tighter funding and more M&A 💸; Gen Z investing app aims to democratize wealth management with AI 🤖📈

PayPal was expected to “shock” the world. Instead, they shot themselves in the foot 🥲; Klarna launches subscriptions ahead of IPO 💳; Apple's EU concession unlikely to dent Apple Pay's dominance 🍎

The Ultimate Corporate Finance Template Collection for CEOs 📚

Once a FinTech darling, Brex lays off 20% as growth slows & burn rate remains high 😳; Towards End-to-End Ownership: Fiserv seeks special bank charter 🏦

Why Revolut hasn’t conquered India🇮🇳 yet? 🤔; France’s Crédit Agricole bets on payments giant Worldline 💸; Germany's unicorn profitability puzzle 🦄 🧩

Stripe’s quiet M&A 👀; Coinbase fights back against the SEC 😤; Revolut Mafia is now bigger than Revolut itself 🦄

Paradigm shift: Apple opens mobile payments to rivals after EU antitrust pressure 📲; N26 expands into stock trading as part of profitability push 💸; Coinbase fights back against the SEC 😤

Wise continues strong growth with upgraded 2024 guidance 🚀; Bitcoin surpasses silver to become the second-largest ETF commodity 😳

10 FinTech and Finance stocks to include in your portfolio for 2024 💼 | Part II

Revolut Mafia is now bigger than Revolut itself 🦄; Airwallex gears up for 2026 IPO amid rapid growth 🚀; Fraud cost $500 billion while illicit money topped $3 trillion in 2023 😳

Circle IPO is not (only) about Circle 🔔; Bitcoin ETFs: slow start but bright future 📈; Stripe’s quiet acquisition 👀

Nubank gets green light to offer savings accounts in Colombia 🇨🇴; Historic: US SEC approves 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs 👏; Drama @ Carta, & killing the dream of being the “Nasdaq for private markets” 😳

The Microsoft of Banking just made history 😳; BlackRock is betting Big on Infrastructure with $12.5B GIP deal 🤯

The Ultimate Africa Investor List 🌍

It’s happening: Elon Musk’s 𝕏 will launch P2P payments this year 😳; Historic: US SEC approves 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs 👏; Revolut's HR Platform is gaining traction 🚀

Ant Group's Western march continues w MultiSafepay M&A 🐜; Drama @ Carta, & killing the dream of being Nasdaq for private markets 😳; BTC ETF wars will have one big winner - it’s not what you think 😎

Investors bet on Stripe IPO in 2024 🔔; Nubank gets the green light to offer savings accounts in Colombia 🇨🇴

AI is eating Finance as banks are getting into LLMs 😳; Visa transforming loyalty with Web3 🪙; Crypto Predictions for 2024 🔮; Top FinTech & Finance stocks to include in your portfolio 💼 & More! 🚀

Visa bets on Web3 Loyalty with gamified rewards & digital collectibles 🪙; Fidelity marked down the value of 𝕏 by 71.5% since Elon's takeover but it’s irrelevant 🙅; 10 Crypto Predictions for 2024 🔮

AI is eating Finance: JPMorgan is getting into LLMs 😳; HSBC Launches Zing App to take on Revolut, Wise, & other FinTech rivals 📲; If you’re in FinTech, you’re in Media: Robinhood acquires Chartr 📊

The MENA Investor List 💰

10 FinTech and Finance stocks to include in your portfolio for 2024 💼 | Part I