Latest FinTech & Blockchain News
Ethereum Upgrade Boosts Blob Capacity on January 7, 2026
Ethereum's technical upgrade today increases blob data capacity per block, solving scalability issues and accelerating Layer 2 adoption. This positions Ethereum as prime DeFi infrastructure with lower fees, competing with Solana while maintaining security.
Fintech implications include mainstream blockchain adoption for faster, transparent finance.
Bitcoin ETFs Attract $1.2B Inflows in First Two Days of 2026
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $1.2B net inflows in the first two trading days, led by BlackRock's IBIT with $697M on Monday. Analysts predict $20B-$70B annual inflows, potentially driving Bitcoin to six figures amid institutional demand.
Morgan Stanley's filing for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs signals Wall Street's deepening crypto involvement.
XRP Surges 25% in Early January, Outperforming BTC and ETH
XRP gained 25% in the first week, hitting $2.40 before pulling back to $2.24, crushing Bitcoin's 6% and Ethereum's 10% returns. Ripple partners with Mizuho Bank, SMBC Nikko, and Securitize Japan for XRP Ledger adoption in payments and tokenization.
U.S. OCC approval for Ripple National Trust Bank adds institutional credibility.
63% of Brokers Launch with Fully Integrated Tech Stacks
B2BROKER's 2025 report shows 63% of brokers now use unified CRM, trading platforms, and liquidity, launching in just 10 days. This enables multi-asset models across FX, crypto, and derivatives amid $10.17T H1 2025 flows.
B2TRADER platform supports smart order routing for scalable operations.
2026 Fintech Trends: AI, Stablecoins, and Blockchain Drive Enterprise Shift
2026 marks fintech's inflection with AI agents, stablecoins, and blockchain moving to mainstream enterprise adoption. Innovations include Knight Fintech's $23.6M funding, Pluto's AI lending, and BMG Money's capital programs.
Cybersecurity focuses on biometrics amid rising AI threats.
UK Fintech Permutable AI Expands to Asia-Pacific
Permutable AI announced Asia-Pacific expansion for AI-driven macro and commodities intelligence on January 7, 2026. Appointing Graham Emo to lead, it targets institutional clients with real-time event processing via ML and NLP.
Focuses on geopolitics' market impact for forward-looking insights.
Axiom GRC Acquires AssurancePoint to Boost U.S. Compliance
Axiom GRC acquired AssurancePoint to expand in U.S. cyber compliance and assurance, integrating with IS Partners. AssurancePoint specializes in SOC and ISO frameworks, enhancing Axiom's end-to-end GRC for 30,000+ clients.
Second U.S. acquisition targets growing regulatory pressures.
Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs
Morgan Stanley filed with SEC to launch Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, broadening access with its $8T assets. This follows BlackRock and Fidelity, legitimizing crypto as mainstream amid ETF inflow surge.
Could drive further institutional adoption in 2026.
Ripple Gains U.S. OCC Approval for National Trust Bank
Ripple received conditional OCC approval for Ripple National Trust Bank post-GENIUS Act signing in 2025. Enables federal stablecoin regulations and bolsters XRP's institutional role.
Supports declining exchange reserves and rising network activity.
B2BROKER Highlights Multi-Asset Trading Boom
Online trading platforms projected to reach $14B by 2027, with brokers adopting multi-asset via unified stacks. 70/30 split between startups and mature firms favors turnkey and API solutions.
Mobile trading dominance drives centralized CRM and liquidity needs.
Bitcoin Poised for 2026 Bounce Despite 2025 Dip
Bitcoin fell 5% in 2025 but shows recovery potential with ETF inflows and institutional shifts as of Jan 7. Average historical returns suggest strong upside amid current momentum.
Volatility eased post-year-end, holding above $90K.