Weekly Finance News Recap: A Brief Overview of Significant Developments in the Fintech Sector
In the bustling world of fintech, the United States continues to lead the charge, attracting over $80 billion in high-value investments in the first half of 2025. This strong growth is particularly evident in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, digital assets, and compliance-focused blockchain technology [1][3].
Among these trends, digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, are gaining traction as part of broader fintech portfolios. However, the adoption of cryptocurrencies within regulated retirement plans like 401(k)s remains limited and cautious [2][4].
Stablecoins, a promising crypto-related technology, are seen as a potential game-changer for traditional financial infrastructure, potentially paving the way for future integration in savings plans [4]. Yet, regulatory and compliance concerns continue to shape a cautious approach to adoption [4][5].
Recently, President Trump signed an executive order enabling investors to buy alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies, for their 401(k) retirement savings plans. However, the available data does not indicate widespread or institutional adoption yet within mainstream 401(k) plans [2][4].
Meanwhile, fintech firms are focusing more on compliant infrastructure that could enable broader options in the future. For instance, Zodia Markets recently raised more than $18 million in Series A funding [6]. This investment will undoubtedly contribute to the development of enterprise-grade blockchain solutions.
Elsewhere in the fintech sphere, Payments processor Silverflow teamed up with payabl. to upgrade its payments infrastructure [7]. Jack Henry and Array also launched the new Banno Digital Banking Platform capability, MyFinancialHealth [8]. Klarna unveiled new enablement via the Stripe for WooCommerce integration [9].
In other news, the New Zealand-based Co-operative Bank partnered with 10x Banking for core replacement, and Sidney Federal Credit Union deployed Illuma's IllumaSHIELD voice authentication and caller fraud prevention solution [10]. Finastra inked a collaboration with NTT Data, extending its Lending Cloud Service, and Payments company Nayax embedded its payment technology into 100,000 Autel Energy EV chargers in North America and Europe [11]. TransferMate secured in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to add payment services, and Global payroll and financial platform Ontop partnered with Thunes to offer real-time wage access [12].
In conclusion, while US fintech is heavily investing in cryptocurrency-related innovations, the ability to invest cryptocurrencies directly in 401(k) retirement plans remains nascent and regulated. The focus is on compliant infrastructure that could enable broader options in the future.
