Trace Finance, a stablecoin settlement infrastructure company, has raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by CoinFund. The funds will be used to expand its cross-border payment services across Latin America, the US, and Asia-Pacific markets.
The US Justice Department, under the Trump administration, is seeking to join a lawsuit against Evanston, Illinois, to block its reparations program for Black residents, alleging it violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against non-Black individuals.
Crypto exchange CoinMENA has partnered with Standard Chartered in the UAE to enhance fiat payment infrastructure, supporting on- and off-ramps and transaction management. This move aligns with the UAE's growing digital asset sector and increasing institutional participation.
China's central bank is increasing its focus on stablecoins, urging enhanced monitoring and international regulatory cooperation due to their growing role in cross-border payments and the global monetary system. The PBOC also warned about potential disruptions from payment weaponization.
The Department of Justice is seeking to join a lawsuit challenging Evanston, Illinois's reparations program, arguing it constitutes illegal race-based discrimination. The program provides $25,000 payments to eligible Black residents and their descendants.
Rep. Jamie Raskin is demanding answers from FBI Director Kash Patel regarding allegations of over $1 million in taxpayer funds being used as a "personal slush fund" for bonuses to loyalist agents, including those on his security detail and "director's advisory team."
Ripple has acquired an equity stake in Flutterwave, a major African fintech company, valued at $3.3 billion. The deal aims to deepen Ripple's presence in Africa's growing cross-border payments market and will see Flutterwave integrate Ripple's stablecoin and XRP Ledger for faster, cheaper transactions.
Ripple has acquired an equity stake in Flutterwave, a major African fintech company, as part of its expansion into the continent's growing cross-border payments market. The deal will see Flutterwave integrate Ripple's stablecoin and XRP Ledger for faster, cheaper transactions.
Flutterwave announced a Series E funding round valuing the company at $3.2 billion, including an investment from Ripple. The deal aims to expand financial services in Africa, addressing challenges in cross-border payments.
Germany's Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) Foundation celebrates 25 years of compensating Nazi forced laborers. While €4.4 billion was paid to 1.66 million survivors, some argue payments were delayed and insufficient given the scale of exploitation.
Germany's Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) marks 25 years since its first compensation payments to Nazi forced labor survivors. While €4.4 billion was paid to 1.66 million people, some argue payments should have been larger and started sooner.
The UK faces a debate over its military budget, with critics arguing that increased defence spending is prioritized over essential services like healthcare and welfare. This 'welfare vs. warfare' narrative is fueled by political rhetoric and think tank reports, despite the financial realities suggesting that welfare cuts alone won't fund defence goals.
Donald Trump denied reports of US payments to Iran, calling them 'fake news' and accusing Democrats of spreading the information. He stated Iran has agreed to never have a nuclear weapon. Earlier reports indicated an agreement to end Middle East hostilities, with a ceasefire and lifting of the US naval blockade.
New "agentic" AI systems are emerging that can set goals, use tools, and execute tasks, potentially connecting AI directly with decentralized finance (DeFi) and crypto wallets. While still in early stages, this technology could automate portfolio management, payments, and yield identification, offering advantages over traditional finance due to crypto's continuous, global, and programmable nature.
Adam Castillo, former head of AmCham Myanmar, detained in Yangon after his organization revealed suspicious financial dealings by ex-board members. A $300,000 contract signed by a former member is under investigation.
NSW Central West leaders have criticized the state government's $10,000 payments for businesses impacted by the Great Western Highway closure as "pathetic." They are demanding more substantial support and a clear timeline for repairs to the Mitchell's Causeway, which has been closed since March.
Boris Titov, chairman of the Russia-China Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development, stated that payment issues between Russia and China have been tactically resolved. He noted that businesses have found solutions through existing clearing platforms, such as PSB, and no current problems exist for making payments.
Chris Farrell, 65, was paid carer's allowance for six months after his husband died, accumulating over £1,300 in debt. Despite reporting the change, the DWP failed to stop payments, causing him distress. The DWP has now written off the overpayment, but other similar cases highlight systemic flaws.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to simplify cross-border payment approvals and reduce regulatory friction for businesses and exporters as part of its Payments Vision 2028. An EY report highlights this as a key strategic priority, focusing on a single-window application process and ecosystem review to aid MSME exporters and strengthen India's global payment position.
Disputes have arisen in Finland regarding payments to workers who lost their jobs or were late due to Ukrainian drone attacks. The controversy emerged after a meeting between government representatives and major employers, where a decision on payments to those affected was reportedly made. Previously, the Confederation of Finnish Industries argued against paying wages to those jobless due to drone threats, but employer organizations now consider the new decision more legitimate.
Ukraine plans to increase military wages by one-third to 30,000 hryvnias and offer fixed-term contracts to boost recruitment. President Zelenskyy also aims to recruit more foreign volunteers. Meanwhile, Russia's Putin claims Ukrainian drone strikes aim to sow confusion and damage the economy, though he admits some economic damage.
Frederic Priestley, 34, has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison for defrauding over 30 people out of £77,400 through a rental scam on Facebook. He falsely advertised a property, took deposits and rent, but never owned or made the property available. The Metropolitan Police investigated after receiving 34 reports, with Priestley using various excuses to avoid fulfilling agreements.
Stablecoin liquidity on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has nearly doubled in a month, approaching $1 billion, largely due to Ripple's RLUSD. This surge supports Ripple's strategy to position XRPL as a payment rail for AI agents, enabling automated, fast, and rule-enforced transactions, a market projected to reach $183 billion by 2033.
Pine Labs has introduced the Pine Labs Payment Protocol (P3P), an AI agent that can complete UPI payments autonomously without human authentication after an initial mandate. This technology, already live on Gullak for gold purchases and at Vijay Sales for deals, aims to enable autonomous wealth creation and secure purchases by eliminating the need for constant human oversight.
