AppTech Payments Corp. (AppTech), an innovative Fintech company powering seamless, omni-channel commerce between businesses and consumers, holds Fireside Chat between AppTech CEO, Luke D’Angelo, and CNBC and Fox Business Network Market Analyst Kenny Polcari. Polcari sits down with D’Angelo to discuss future growth and outlines the most recent Company events. Viewers can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wtwhYGv4Bs

AppTech was also recently viewed on Fox business as one of the best long-term companies to have in your five-year stock plan, seen here: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6317511890112/.

Finastra today announced that FinWise Bank, an award-winning Utah-based community bank, has selected Fusion Phoenix as its new core banking solution. FinWise Bank, known for its strategic financing relationships with fintechs nationwide as well as being a top-25 SBA lender, will leverage its new core capabilities to better align its retail and business lending technology with its innovative fintech lending program.

“FinWise is a unique bank doing innovative things in the fintech space,” said Dawn Cannon, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, FinWise Bank. “We needed to find a core provider that could match our needs for flexibility and growth, as well as one that has the experience and stability we could put our trust in. We feel that Finastra is that provider.”

FinWise Bank selected Finastra’s Fusion Phoenix core banking solution to modernize its banking infrastructure and to propel its banking business with leading-edge capabilities and a focus on adapting to a fast-moving market. Fusion Phoenix empowers the Bank to build upon its fintech partnership lending program, supporting new accounts on a national level while delivering superior customer service both locally and nationally.  

With the banking industry rapidly evolving, FinWise Bank required a truly digital core solution with sophisticated banking functionality powered by open APIs, the cloud, and microservices, making it fully adaptable to new and emerging technologies. As the Bank continues to expand its digital footprint, Fusion Phoenix offers needed flexibility, increases efficiencies, and fully integrates customer data, allowing for more personalized campaigns and customer interactions.

“Fusion Phoenix provides FinWise Bank the open architecture and flexibility it needs to achieve its exciting digital expansion,” said Keith Redding, Chief Revenue Officer, Universal Banking at Finastra. “Our core solution’s open model creates results and extensibility today, while futureproofing technology and enabling future growth. FinWise’s innovative leadership team recognized that it needed the right partner to help scale the business for the future, and we’re pleased to work with them as they deliver their successful banking model across the United States.”

Uome the fintech platform that enables the self-employed community to run their businesses from their phones is excited to announce the launch of its new integrated Plaid open banking feature within the app available today (21 December 2022).

This new feature allows Uome users who are small businesses, creatives, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, accountants, consultants and freelancers to receive instant bank payments and get paid immediately due to the integration of open banking that allows for instant bank-to-bank transfers.

Prior to having Open Banking, payments were processed via Google Pay, Apple Pay and Klarna. With Stripe being the main payment processing provider and payments taking anywhere between 3-7 days to arrive. Now Uome users have the ability to choose how they get paid. Clients can still pay for services via Apple Pay and Google Pay but users can now choose the speed in which they receive their funds.

Jason Halstead Founder of Uome commented:
“Uome is all about simplifying essential processes required to run a business and empowering its users.”

“With Uome, business owners have full control of how they choose to run and grow their business and can switch on or off integrated services. So, users can sign up for a monthly subscription and access open banking for instant payments or opt to receive funds via Stripe with our PAYG option. The same applies for our Klarna integration. Uome users have the ability to offer credit to their clients at their discretion.”

The Open banking feature is currently free to use however from 1st January 2023 this will become part of the paid subscription option which also includes our value-added admin features (expenses, reporting, catalogue etc).

Uome understands that its users are at various stages of their business journey. Whether you have a side hustle or running a team we want to help reduce the burden and stress.

This is why Uome prides itself on providing flexible options to meet different needs, so business owners can opt for what suits them best.

Uome plans:
• Free £0
• PAYG £0+
• Subscription monthly £9.99 (annual option available)
To find out more click here

The Open banking feature is currently free to use however from 1st January 2023 this will become part of the paid subscription option which also includes our value added admin features (expenses, reporting, catalogue etc).

Phos, the global leader in software point-of-sale (SoftPoS) orchestration for businesses, announces today that enterprise retailers can now add SoftPoS as an option to their existing payment acceptance solution.

This new and innovative functionality is the result of a partnership with Diebold Nixdorf -- a global leader in automating, digitising and transforming the way people bank and shop. The solution will enable retailers to expand their number of payment acceptance points without the traditional expense of payment hardware and is also acquirer agnostic, allowing Diebold Nixdorf to launch the solution for any existing acquirer its retail customers may be using.

Leveraging phos’ experience of completing acquirer integrations will ensure retailers can easily and seamlessly accept card and digital wallet payments directly on any NFC-enabled smartphone or tablet, in a secure and contactless way.

The solution is set to be showcased on mobile devices for staff journeys by Diebold Nixdorf at NRF 2023: Retail's Big Show in New York, and EuroShop 2023 in Düsseldorf.

Brad Hyett, CEO of phos, said: “Through our partnership with Diebold Nixdorf, we set out to help retailers capitalise on the opportunity to expand their payment acceptance points. SoftPoS solutions continue to innovate the payment landscape and this announcement is a clear demonstration of its application on a large scale. Diebold Nixdorf is at the heart of global retail activity globally, and with our future-proof technology we hope to continue to address the unique challenges across all retail segments and industries.

Ben Gale, Senior Vice President, EMEA APAC and Global Accounts, added: “Enterprise retail continues to gain momentum as more customers are looking for preferred payment methods that work for them. We’re excited to partner with phos to help more people obtain the benefits of SoftPoS solutions. We already have thousands of users leveraging POS, which are now owned by acquirers. Enabling phos to remain an acquirer agnostic solution will further drive adoption as we aim to enable retailers deliver relevant journeys like queue busting or assisted selling for today's retail environment.”

Phos currently has 14 certified acquirer connections, as the fintech continues to expand globally. It plans to increase this number exponentially to satisfy the needs of tier-one providers and requirements across international markets. Additional acquiring certifications are currently in progress and will be announced in the new year.

Its latest partnership with Diebold Nixdorf comes amid growing market interest in SoftPoS and Tap-to-Pay technology, with consumer tech giant Apple announcing it would enable third-party SoftPoS providers to deploy their technology on iOS devices earlier this year.

2022 has been a meaningful year for Coinbase’s international expansion, and before we draw it to a close, we are delighted to share some additional good news! Coinbase has been granted approval by the Central Bank of Ireland to operate as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), meaning that Coinbase can continue to provide products and services to individuals and institutions in Europe and internationally, from Ireland. In addition, Coinbase’s Ireland operations will now be under the steady hand of Cormac Dinan, our new Country Director. Cormac brings more than 20 years of financial service and fintech experience to the role, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board.

This VASP registration means that Coinbase Ireland will be subject to the Criminal Justice Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010 (as amended), demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of compliance.

The VASP registration covers two Coinbase entities: Coinbase Europe Limited, and Coinbase Custody International Limited, both of which are based in Ireland. Coinbase Europe provides crypto trading services to customers in Europe, and Coinbase Custody International provides crypto custody services to Institutional customers across Europe. 

Coinbase has been active in Ireland since 2018, engaged in various activities, including Market Operations, Compliance, Cybersecurity, Legal and Customer Experience. Cormac will oversee business operations for regulated activities, and implement the firm’s strategy for scaling the business through new technology and operational efficiencies, while ensuring customers continue to enjoy secure and seamless transactions.

“As the most trusted and secure crypto exchange, Coinbase has developed its technology and regulatory procedures alongside the industry as it matures. I’m looking forward to strengthening Ireland’s operations and helping the sector’s continued growth. Creating an environment which champions innovation while strengthening trust in crypto is something I am really eager to progress,” said Cormac Dinan.

The VASP registration was introduced in Ireland in 2021 and requires the Central Bank to review firms to ensure they have appropriate procedures around anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. This VASP registration follows Coinbase Ireland Limited’s earlier authorisation by the Irish Central Bank to operate as an electronic money institution (EMI). This allows Coinbase to issue electronic money, provide electronic payment services and handle electronic payments for third parties.

“Ireland has been a natural home for Coinbase in Europe, not least because of its talent pool and openness to industry, but also because of its EU membership and access. The recent EU political agreement on MiCA is a hugely positive step, offering one of the most globally significant regulatory frameworks for crypto. Our Irish regulatory approval demonstrates our commitment and collaboration with the Central Bank of Ireland. Coinbase views regulation of the industry as an enabler for crypto’s growth, setting clear ground rules that will create an environment which encourages innovation and strengthens trust in the sector,” said Nana Murugesan, Vice President, International and Business Development at Coinbase.

Coinbase serves customers across almost 40 European countries through dedicated hubs in Ireland, the UK, and Germany. Additional registrations or license applications are in progress in several major markets, in compliance with local regulations.

OKX, the world-leading cryptocurrency platform, has issued updates for the week beginning December 19, 2022.

OKX lists BNB for spot trading

OKX is pleased to announce the listing of BNB (BNB) on our spot trading markets. BNB deposits opened on Dec. 20, while spot trading opened on Dec. 21. BNB withdrawals will be launched at 3:00 am UTC on Dec. 22.

BNB powers the Binance ecosystem and is the native asset of the Binance Chain. From its initial maximum supply of 200 million, burns are expected to continue until the supply reaches 100 million.

Users offered chance to earn high APYs with ETH 2.0 Staking and BETH Flash Deals
Between December 20 and December 25, users staking ETH 2.0 will earn up to 7% APY. Users participating in ETH 2.0 Staking will also enjoy the below benefits:

• No Staking Limits,
• Slashing Protection,
• Zero ETH Staking Fee,
• Zero Commission Fee

Participating in ETH 2.0 Staking by December 25 also makes users eligible to participate in BETH Flash Deals, in which they can earn up to 110% APY. The BETH Flash Deals will run from December 26 until December 29.

Bitgreen, the company building blockchain’s epicenter for sustainability, activates its parachain on Polkadot. Going live just two months after winning its parachain auction, Bitgreen paves a way for sustainability and impact-investment projects to build communities and raise funds through its blockchain platform.

Despite the mounting urgency to solve the climate crisis, leading governments are falling behind in reaching necessary funding goals. This gap in financial action immediately affects the most vulnerable communities impacted by climate disasters. For instance, funding pipeline blockages cause critical initiatives like climate adaptation infrastructure to receive under 10% of the estimated $340 billion in support it will require by 2030. Projects of all scopes conducting vital work in climate development and humanitarian aid must now seek different avenues to attain funds.

Bitgreen responds to this critical shortfall with a novel infrastructure for grassroots-level sustainability and impact projects to find a global investor community. By launching its chain on Polkadot, a Proof-of-Stake network which consumes 99.9% less energy than other leading blockchains, Bitgreen empowers projects to sustainably raise funds for critical initiatives combating climate change and humanitarian crises. Additionally, the chain activation enables Bitgreen token holders to stake their assets and participate in projects and dApps launched natively on the network.

The chain activation comes on the heels of Bitgreen winning the 29th Polkadot parachain auction in October 2022 through a private bid. Bitgreen’s quick turnaround from its auction win to going live demonstrates the platform’s readiness to launch following a year of development and outside investment.

This ongoing development has resulted in Bitgreen completing its token generation event in time for the chain activation. Likewise, the platform has launched a Polkadot collator network to actively maintain the parachain throughout its operations.

“Going live with our chain on Polkadot is a milestone we’re thrilled to have reached in such a short time,” says Adam Carver, President of Bitgreen Switzerland. “Activating a platform is a challenge that not every project is able to tackle, and we’re proud to have prepared for this moment for the last year and welcome user accounts that will gravitate to Bitgreen in 2023.

Despite latest news reports citing plunging crypto prices, a quarter (25%) of Brits would like Amazon to offer cryptocurrency as a payment option.

The Cryptocurrency on the High Street Report by trusted savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, analyses the UK’s attitudes and spending behaviours towards virtual currency. It reveals that over a third (34%) of people now own a form of cryptocurrency.

When looking at which top UK retailers Brits are keen to spend their cryptocurrency with, its everyday retailers topping the charts. Tech giant Apple takes second place, with 14% of people wanting the option to buy their latest iPhone and accessories with the digital currency. However, it’s not just tech that people want to spend their hard-earned digital coins on as one in ten (10%) state they’d like to purchase their weekly shopping in Tesco and Asda and book flights with British Airways using cryptocurrency.

Top 10 UK retailers Brits would like to offer cryptocurrency as a form of payment

Research shows the nation is now buying essential items and commodities with their cyber cash. One of the most popular purchases amongst Brits is clothing, with 13% decking themselves out in the latest fashions using their crypto. But it’s not just the everyday items making it to the checkout, the same amount of people (13%) also used money from their digital wallet to purchase property.

Most popular crypto purchases

Looking ahead to the future crypto landscape, a quarter (25%) of Brits think crypto will be the future of payments and the average person is willing to invest £593 in cryptocurrencies. However, when looking at differences in generational attitudes, it’s clear that younger generations are more convinced by the new currency than those who are older. Those over the age of 55 are only willing to invest £213 on average, 462% less than 18-24-year-olds who would be willing to contribute a hefty £1,197.

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, commented: “It’s clear from our Cryptocurrency on the High Street Report that consumers are really embracing the crypto phenomenon. A large number of Brits already own digital currency and feel comfortable using this to purchase both retail and big-ticket items such as a house.

“With some major retailers such as Microsoft, Shopify and Etsy now accepting crypto as a form of payment, high street and online retailers appear to be adapting to consumer needs. There is a distinct appetite amongst the public for the currency to be more integrated into everyday life and everyday purchases.

“However, before investing any money it’s important to do your research. Having a robust understanding of how crypto works and the benefits and drawbacks of using it will enable you to gather the necessary tools and information to make a calculated decision.”