The percentage of US adults who lacked savings to cover a full month of basic expenses rose to 29.0% in January, up from an already high 22.3% the previous month. This figure had hovered above one-fifth since June 2021, when states began terminating the expanded federal unemployment benefits that had helped many weather the pandemic.
Bank of Canada and MIT do a CBDC collab: The 12-month partnership through MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative (DCI) could help both parties better understand technical aspects and risks of a Canadian central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Chinese authorities are reportedly considering roping WeChat Pay into the spin-off, which may further complicate regulatory matters for Tencent.
CFPB’s exam manual update covers discrimination: The US regulator’s update is part of a larger push against discriminatory conduct under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Rising volume and employer interest in equity compensation for workers attracts big players: Fidelity struck a partnership with Capdesk while JPMorgan plans to acquire Global Shares.
Chainalysis recommended steps for fighting sanctions evasion and long-term measures to revamp how the government addresses crypto-related crime.
The issuer plans to attract more SMEs and younger consumers while upping its tech capabilities ahead of a credit card inflection point.
Senators eye Wells Fargo’s refinancing operations: Bloomberg found the bank approved just 47% of Black homeowners’ refinancing requests, adding to the debate on whether tech propagates discrimination.
Kyash’s haul bodes well for digital banking in Japan: Its ¥4.9B ($44.6M) fund raise from a Series D round is a sign of investors’ confidence in Japanese digital banking players.
Allica Bank gets to £1B for deposits: The UK challenger bank hit the milestone just two years following its rollout, affirming its diversification strategy is working.
Fintech offers collectible assets to Europe’s ordinary investors: The Konvi platform lets people invest in wine and watches—with plans for NFTs—capitalizing on expected global growth in the collectibles market.
Crypto infrastructure builder ConsenSys snagged $450M, reaching a $7B valuation.
Walgreens and other major brands joined Mastercard Installments, further sharpening Mastercard’s edge in the BNPL space.