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    <li>
      <p>
        Thunes, a cross-border payment infrastructure platform, has partnered with Visa Direct to add cross-border &ldquo;send-to-wallet&rdquo; capabilities to 78 digital wallet providers (already integrated with Thunes). Through this partnership, Thunes&rsquo;s users can send funds to Africa, Asia, and Latin America &ndash; where digital wallets are commonly used.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        These 78 digital wallets have 1.5 billion users, across 44 countries and locations. The partnership reportedly expands Visa Direct&rsquo;s reach to around 7 billion endpoints &ndash; over 3 billion cards and accounts and around 1.5 billion digital wallets.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>Analyst Quicktake: </b>
        Thunes joins several payment infrastructure providers who have recently partnered with Visa to leverage Visa Direct. Last month, Finastra did so to enable its bank and financial institution (FI) clients to offer cross-border payouts. Meanwhile, Astra partnered with Visa in August 2022 to offer real-time payment services through Visa Direct.&nbsp;&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/94528/thunes-integrates-with-visa-direct?utm_medium=rssfinextra&utm_source=finextrafeed">
      Finextra
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
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FinTech Infrastructure

Thunes partners with Visa Direct to improve cross-border payments to digital wallets

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>Cloud-native digital banking provider, Lumin Digital, has secured USD 160 million in growth equity financing. The funding round was led by Light Street Capital, NewView Capital, and Partners Group, taking Lumin's total funding to USD 249 million.</p>
 <p>This new capital is intended to drive strategic growth plans, with a particular emphasis on tech advancements for financial institutions. Lumin Digital is also set to broaden its product range while staying dedicated to a client-focused approach.</p>
 <p>Established in 2016, Lumin Digital supplies cloud-native digital banking solutions to financial institutions across the US. The company caters to retail banking, commercial banking, and digital account opening. As of October 2024, Lumin's platform catered to over 5.2 million digital banking users and supported more than 60 financial institutions.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The FinTech infrastructure industry has recently seen an infusion of funding. Lumin Digital joins the likes of <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36582"> Cardless </a> , which raised USD 30 million,&nbsp; <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36522"> Cellpoint Digital </a> , which raised USD 30 million, and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35871"> Satispay, </a> which secured USD 64 million over the past month.</p>

Lumin Digital raises USD 160 million in growth equity to accelerate business growth

<div>
 <p>Cardless, a firm providing credit card issuing infrastructure, has secured USD 30 million in a funding round led by Activant Capital. Other participants in the round include Mischief, Industry Ventures, Thayer Ventures, Assurant, and Amex Ventures. This boost increases the total equity funding of the company to over USD 90 million.</p>
 <p>The newly raised capital is intended to aid in the growth of the company's co-branded credit card and loyalty products. Further, it will support the growth of its engineering and operations teams. It will also be used for expanding into new sectors, namely retail, ecommerce, and small to medium-sized businesses.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The FinTech infrastructure industry has recently seen an infusion of funding. Cardless joins Cellpoint Digital, which raised USD 30 million, <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35871"> Satispay, </a> which secured USD 64 million, and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35771"> LendAPI, </a> which raised USD 3.2 million.</p>

Cardless raises USD 30 million in growth funding from Activant Capital

<div>
 <p>Payment platform CellPoint Digital has successfully raised USD 30 million in a funding round led by Toscafund and Penta Capital, elevating its total funding to USD 55 million.</p>
 <p>These funds will be utilized for the launch of its upcoming Offer Order Service Delivery (OOSD) payment orchestration platform. This state-of-the-art platform will facilitate real-time order processing and enable personalized customer experiences. Moreover, it promises multi-channel payment solutions in the dynamic travel industry.</p>
 <p>In addition to the launch, the company also intends to use the investment for global expansion, enhancement of payment and monetary transaction services, and to proliferify its alternative payment method hub.</p>
</div>

CellPoint Digital raises USD 30 million in funding to launch new products and expand global operations

<div>
 <p>The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has finalized a rule to supervise non-bank companies that operate digital payment and wallet apps handling over 50 million transactions annually.</p>
 <p>This supervision focuses on three key areas: privacy and data collection practices, fraud prevention, and error resolution and account closure policies. The aim is to safeguard consumer privacy, prevent unauthorized account closures, and ensure appropriate handling of transaction disputes. This is particularly aimed at protecting vulnerable groups like older adults and servicemembers.</p>
 <p>The rule will take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The finalized version has increased the transaction threshold and narrowed down the scope to transactions in US dollars.</p>
 
</div>

CFPB finalizes oversight rules for large digital payment apps

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 <p>Shell intends to divest portions of its nature-based carbon projects but will retain a minority interest. The move comes as the company pivots towards high-profit fossil fuel projects.</p>
 <p>Shell's carbon offset market has experienced significant difficulties, as seen by the drop in REDD+ credit prices from USD 12.50 in 2022 to just USD 3.60 per credit in 2023.</p>
 <p>The company is deliberating over two deal structures: selling project shares while preserving credit purchases or selling projects without credit purchasing obligations. Private equity firms are currently engaged in discussions with Shell.</p>
 <p>In spite of pulling back from its carbon offset emphasis, Shell asserts that it will continue with its pledge to decrease operational emissions by 50% by 2030 (relative to 2016). The company might also consider adopting engineered carbon extraction technologies such as direct air capture.</p>
</div>

Shell plans sale of carbon offset business

<div>
 <p>Banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider NovoPayment has raised USD 20 million in growth funding in a round led by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. Past investors include IDCV, Fuel Venture Capital, IDB, Visa, and Endeavor Catalyst.</p>
 <p>The new funding will be used to help NovoPayment continue its expansion and establish further commercial partnerships.</p>
 <p>Operating across 15 markets in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the US, NovoPayment's platform offers digital banking, payments, and card solutions. Its services range from digital wallets and instant deposit accounts to virtual cards, real-time payments, cross-border transfers, digital lending, and cash management.</p>
</div>

NovoPayment raises USD 20 million in growth funding from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

<div>
 <p>Italian mobile payments provider, Satispay, has amassed EUR 60 million (USD 64 million) in a funding round from investors like Addition, Greyhound, and Lightrock, taking the company's total fundraising amount to over EUR 500 million (USD 532 million).</p>
 <p>Such funding will fortify Satispay's standing in the mobile payments, welfare, and investment services markets. By launching new investment services for consumers and exploring probable acquisitions, the company is forward planning strategically.</p>
 <p>Established in 2013, Satispay is a mobile payment grid linking directly to users' bank accounts via their IBAN. It allows users to carry out payments in physical and virtual stores, transact money among friends, pay for services, and reserve savings via a mobile application. Satispay is serving in excess of 5 million users and about 380,000 merchants in Italy, France, and Luxembourg.</p>
</div>

Satispay raises EUR 60 million in funding to expand services

<div>
 <p>LendAPI, a company providing digital banking and loan origination solutions, has raised USD 3.2 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Cohen Circle and included participation from Great North Ventures, AlleyCorp, Techstars, Plug and Play, and Interlock Capital.</p>
 <p>The newly raised capital will be paced towards expanding LendAPI's features and enlarging its presence across various financial sectors such as insurance and embedded finance. The company also has plans to enhance its AI capabilities and initiate new integrations.</p>
 <p>Established in March 2024, LendAPI is an infrastructure provider in financial technology that caters to FinTechs, banks, and other financial institutions to swiftly launch banking, credit, and BNPL solutions.</p>
 
</div>

LendAPI raises USD 3.2 million in seed funding to expand offerings and footprint

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 
 <p>Digital banking solutions platform, Blend, has entered a partnership with Covered Insurance Solutions, a digital insurance market providing home, renters, auto, and life insurance. The aim of this cooperation is to provide home insurance to Blend's mortgage customers. </p>
 <p>As a result of this partnership, Covered's platform will be integrated directly into Blend's mortgage application process. This will offer homebuyers access to high-rated insurance carriers across the United States. In addition, Covered will assume control over Blend's insurance agency operations, changing from an internal model to a more partnership-driven approach.</p>
 <p>One of the key goals of this partnership is to give borrowers a wider range of carrier options and to offer better value. Furthermore, it will assist lenders in expediting the loan process by offering improved engagement tools and comprehensive insurance marketplace services.</p>
 
</div>

Blend partners with Covered Insurance to offer home insurance for mortgage customers

<div>
 <p>Digital banking provider, Plumery, has teamed up with payment solutions provider, Payment Components, to aid financial institutions in system modernisation without the need to modify their current core infrastructure.</p>
 <p>This collaboration permits banks to establish new digital channels and payment tools, including real-time payments, with no need for alterations to their core systems to conform with regulations like the EU's Instant Payments Regulation (IPR).</p>
 <p>Founded in 2022, Plumery offers a digital banking platform that empowers financial institutions to develop and launch mobile and online banking interfaces.</p>
 <p>Established in 2014, Payment Components offers software components to aid financial institutions in digital operation transformation and improving payment services.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst Quicktake:<br>
 </b> There has been an uptick in partnership activity related to digital banking solutions in this space. Notable partnerships include 1) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35633"> Narmi’s partnership with Agent </a> IQ to enhance digital banking solutions for financial institutions, 2) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35460"> ClearBank’s partnership with Visa </a> to enable real-time payments and card issuance, and 3) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/35313"> Nymbus’s partnership with PeoplesBank </a> to launch employer-focused banking solutions.</p>

All Updates

Thunes partners with Visa Direct to improve cross-border payments to digital wallets

Lumin Digital raises USD 160 million in growth equity to accelerate business growth

Cardless raises USD 30 million in growth funding from Activant Capital

CellPoint Digital raises USD 30 million in funding to launch new products and expand global operations

CFPB finalizes oversight rules for large digital payment apps

Shell plans sale of carbon offset business

NovoPayment raises USD 20 million in growth funding from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

Satispay raises EUR 60 million in funding to expand services

LendAPI raises USD 3.2 million in seed funding to expand offerings and footprint

Blend partners with Covered Insurance to offer home insurance for mortgage customers

Plumery partners with Payment Components to modernize bank payment systems

FinTech Infrastructure

Thunes partners with Visa Direct to improve cross-border payments to digital wallets

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