The US challenger’s plan to mix decentralized finance with traditional banking in a “hybrid finance” approach could shore up its appeal to younger users.

In 2021, mobile finance apps reached 573.1 million downloads in the US, up nearly 19% from 481.9 million in 2020.

On today's episode, we discuss why the West's answer to super apps is finally taking shape, why cryptocurrency sells out as governments buy in, and what kinds of new revenue sources digital brokers are hunting for. We then talk about how JPMorgan Chase is planning on spending its increased yearly technology budget and what will be largely responsible for driving fintech funding to new heights. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analyst Eleni Digalaki and vice president of content and head of financial services at Insider Intelligence Daniel Van Dyke.

DeFi industry must do more self-policing until regulation arrives: Theft from DeFi platforms increased 1,330% in 2021—and the SEC is looking at pseudonymity and opacity as major problems to solve.

We break down the metaverse and how it can define the future of computing, gaming, finance, social media, and business: AR and VR technologies, expanding virtual platforms and ecosystems, as well as an appetite for more immersive experiences are pushing the boundaries of reality into the virtual world.

The UK-based neobank’s founder and CEO Anne Boden outlined plans to offer banking as a service globally in 2022, giving Starling a potential opening into embedded finance.

Shake-ups in the new year will include hyper-personalization, tech companies venturing further into embedded finance, and the prospect of super apps in Western countries.

The quieter Thanksgiving weekend news cycle gave us time to dive deep on a much-hyped fintech sector. Here’s how DeFi actually works, what issues it aims to solve, and where it’s going next.

Digital health gets a new AI unicorn as health leaders bet on AI for clinical admin: Iodine Software just became the latest healthcare AI unicorn via a private equity investment—growth we expect to continue as provider orgs look to run a tighter ship with their finances.

Its net revenue fell to $1.24B in Q3—but it plans to reduce its reliance on trading by offering users access to Dapps, DeFi, and NFTs.

Embedded Finance. Embedded finance is the concept of fintechs and brands blending financial products, services, and customer data into their customer experience, in a way that puts their brand and core business model first. It means providing a customer with a financial product or service in any context.

Gen Xers have taken a hit from the pandemic. But in midcareer and with bigger-than-average households, they remain too important a cohort for marketers to ignore. Thus, it’s essential see how their finances, shopping behavior, and digital usage shape up amid the pandemic.