Fintech
Experian A/NZ acquires Australian fintech Look Who’s Charging to bolster open data offering
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Consumers and financial institutions to benefit from richer data
Experian Australia & New Zealand today announces its acquisition of Look Who’s Charging, the Australian fintech startup which has solved the everyday frustrating problem of unrecognised bank transactions by providing instant clarification on the merchant behind a transaction.
Look Who’s Charging is integrated with a number of Australian banks, with their data available to millions of Australians directly within existing digital banking applications.
The move will combine Experian’s global open data solutions with Look Who’s Charging’s advanced enrichment capabilities. Following the recent legislation of Open Banking as the first stage of the Consumer Data Right (CDR), the deal will create a market leading open data platform in the Australian market that will have wide ranging benefits for consumers, businesses and financial institutions.
Experian’s present open data solution, built in the UK, facilitates 40% of all UK Open Banking application program interface (API) requests.
Andrew Black, Managing Director of Experian A/NZ explains how the acquisition enables Experian to provide organisations with a sophisticated aggregation and categorisation solution and granular insights for them to apply across their business:
“If a transaction is unable to be categorised accurately, it is often classed as ‘unknown’ which can result in decisions impacting consumers being based on limited data. This can have a big knock on effect if, for example, banks are using one platform to help a customer understand their own income and expenditure, and another to decide what loan they can afford.
With Look Who’s Charging’s enriched data integrated into our open data platform, we will be able to provide a uniquely accurate and comprehensive solution for the Australian market. This will help our customers lend more responsibly while enhancing their fraud checks and reducing their call centre traffic for unrecognised transaction queries, as well as ensuring consumers have a greater understanding of their financial situation.”
Over 1 billion transactions are enriched every single month through Look Who’s Charging’s platform to provide Australian consumers complete clarity on their spending.
“Look Who’s Charging’s forward-looking and problem-solving nature is aligned with our business and approach to innovation,” adds Mr Black. “We share the aim to help businesses and consumers make better and more informed decisions, and we are delighted to be working with a company who is truly having a positive impact on not only our financial services industry but Australian consumers too.”
Ben Elliott, CEO of Experian APAC commented: “The acquisition – our sixth investment in Asia Pacific since 2017 (following venture investments in Grab, Jirnexu, C88 Financial Technologies, BankBazaar.com and CompareAsiaGroup) – demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in this region and using our advanced data and analytics expertise to remove complexity from the lending process. Bringing Look Who’s Charging and our innovative solutions together will help Australian organisations, and ultimately consumers, as Open Banking standards are adopted in Australia.”
Founder of Look Who’s Charging, Stuart Grover, said: “We are extremely excited to combine the technology and data we have built to support the Australian banks with Experian’s market leading open data technology. We are very proud to have built Look Who’s Charging from an idea, born from the frustration of unrecognised transactions to a product which helps millions of Australian consumers, in under 4 years.
With Experian’s scale, we have an opportunity to help solve more of the immediate problems faced by Australian consumers and financial institutions, whilst the Look Who’s Charging solution is also rolled out to other key markets around the world.”
Fintech
Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Plaid, Warner Bros., TransUnion, Monevo, FinVolution, CreditTech, Glenbrook Partners)
Op-Ed: The Dawn of a Fintech Spring
As the financial technology sector continues to navigate the complex post-pandemic landscape, recent developments suggest a revitalized period of growth and innovation. Key players are making bold moves, partnerships are forming, and underserved markets are gaining attention. In this briefing, we explore the latest headlines and what they reveal about the industry’s trajectory.
Plaid Reports Growth in Revenue and Usage Rates
Plaid, the connective tissue of the fintech ecosystem, has shown remarkable resilience and growth. The company’s CEO recently highlighted a surge in both revenue and usage rates, describing the current period as a “fintech spring.” This growth comes as consumer demand for seamless financial solutions remains high, despite macroeconomic challenges.
Plaid’s ability to maintain relevance is tied to its strategic partnerships and continuous innovation. By enabling applications like Venmo and Robinhood to thrive, Plaid underscores the importance of integration in fostering user trust and utility.
Source: Bloomberg
Warner Bros. Discovery Strengthens Board with Fintech Leadership
Warner Bros. Discovery is diversifying its board by bringing in SoFi CEO Anthony Noto and outgoing IAC Chief Executive Joseph Levin. This move signals the increasing influence of fintech expertise beyond traditional financial sectors. With Noto’s leadership in digital banking and Levin’s extensive background in technology-driven enterprises, Warner Bros. Discovery is positioning itself for a future that seamlessly blends media and financial technology.
This cross-industry synergy could lead to innovative offerings, bridging gaps between entertainment platforms and fintech applications, such as micro-investing and personalized financial recommendations for content consumers.
Source: Reuters
TransUnion to Acquire Monevo
Credit reporting agency TransUnion has announced its plans to acquire Monevo, a leading credit prequalification and distribution platform. This acquisition aims to enhance TransUnion’s capabilities in the credit technology space, allowing it to offer more personalized and accessible financial solutions to consumers.
By integrating Monevo’s platform, TransUnion is expected to provide lenders with advanced tools to better assess creditworthiness while empowering consumers with prequalified loan offers. This development is particularly timely as consumers increasingly seek transparency and efficiency in credit processes.
Source: TransUnion Press Release
FinVolution Highlights CreditTech Opportunities in Southeast Asia
Ming Gu, Senior Vice President of FinVolution, emphasized the transformative potential of CreditTech in Southeast Asia during his address at the Asian Financial Forum. With a significant portion of the region’s population still underserved by traditional financial institutions, CreditTech presents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap.
Gu pointed out that leveraging AI and data analytics can help tailor credit solutions for diverse needs, ultimately fostering financial inclusion and economic growth in these emerging markets. FinVolution’s insights reaffirm the critical role of fintech in empowering underserved communities.
Source: PR Newswire
Glenbrook Partners Launches On-Demand Learning Program
Payments consultancy Glenbrook Partners has introduced an on-demand learning platform designed to educate professionals in the payments industry. This initiative is expected to address the growing need for skilled talent as digital payment ecosystems expand globally.
The program offers modular content covering foundational and advanced topics, catering to professionals at various stages of their careers. By equipping individuals with in-depth knowledge, Glenbrook is contributing to the industry’s sustainability and growth.
Source: PR Newswire
Analysis and Takeaways
These stories collectively highlight a few key trends shaping the fintech landscape:
- Resilient Growth: Plaid’s trajectory reaffirms that consumer-centric innovations drive sector resilience even during economic uncertainties.
- Cross-Industry Integration: Warner Bros. Discovery’s board appointments underline fintech’s permeation into traditionally non-financial domains.
- Strategic Acquisitions: TransUnion’s acquisition of Monevo showcases how established players are leveraging fintech to enhance service offerings.
- Global Inclusivity: Efforts by FinVolution and others highlight the role of fintech in addressing global financial disparities.
- Education and Skill Development: Initiatives like Glenbrook’s program reflect a proactive approach to fostering a knowledgeable workforce.
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Fintech
io.finnet and Cede Labs Partner to Transform Multi-Exchange Portfolio Management for Institutions
io.finnet, a leader in digital asset infrastructure, has partnered with Cede Labs, to introduce a solution for centralized exchange (CEX) connectivity. This collaboration provides institutional clients with a streamlined, secure platform for comprehensive multi-exchange portfolio management. Through this integration, io.finnet clients can now access leading exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, Bybit, OKX, Kraken and more with features tailored for institutional-grade governance and operational efficiency.
Institutional digital asset management faces increasing complexity as businesses demand more secure and efficient tools to oversee diverse portfolios. With 70% of institutional investors expecting a surge in digital asset-focused funds, the need for secure and efficient multi-exchange solutions has never been greater.
“Businesses require solutions that simplify the complexity of managing assets across exchanges while maintaining the highest standards of security.” said Jacob Plaster, CTO of io.finnet. “Through our partnership with Cede Labs, clients can seamlessly connect their exchange accounts and manage their entire portfolio within a unified, secure environment.”
Unlike traditional offerings, io.finnet’s integration with Cede Labs introduces secure account-linking capabilities, allowing clients to effortlessly connect and unlink their exchange accounts while adhering to strict governance protocols. Unified tracking capabilities further enhance this solution, enabling users to monitor their portfolios across all connected exchanges in real-time. This includes the ability to oversee spot and trading wallets, derivatives positions, and sub-accounts under a single pane of glass, a feature few competitors offer at this scale.
Pierre Ni, CEO of Cede Labs, highlighted the impact on institutional workflows: “We are proud to collaborate with io.finnet to redefine digital asset custody and management. By unlocking new use cases for corporates, market makers, liquid funds, foundations, and fintechs through CEX connectivity, we believe io.finnet can grow to become one of the top self-custody players.”
This partnership is particularly timely as market demand for interoperable solutions continues to rise. The integration will eliminate the need to navigate multiple platforms and provide institutions with real-time visibility across their digital asset holdings, enabling seamless exchange connectivity and enhanced risk management.
io.finnet is committed to enhancing its exchange connectivity capabilities with deposits, withdrawals, trades, and sub-account transfers to further streamline asset management workflows. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we expand the possibilities of our Exchange Connectivity feature.
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Welcome to Blocks & Headlines, your comprehensive daily briefing on the transformative world of blockchain. Today, we explore groundbreaking partnerships, economic innovations, and blockchain-powered initiatives redefining the future.
Sony Ventures Into Blockchain With New Identity Solutions
Sony has unveiled its latest blockchain-based digital identity solution designed to enhance privacy and security in the online space. This innovative system uses decentralized technology to manage digital credentials, making identity verification seamless and secure.
Sony’s venture reflects a broader trend among tech giants exploring blockchain’s potential to reshape data privacy and authentication systems.
Source: Sony Press Release
TRON’s Daily Revenue Skyrockets 119% in 2024
TRON has reported a staggering 119% increase in daily revenue, a testament to its innovative blockchain economic models. By leveraging smart contracts and a scalable infrastructure, TRON continues to attract developers and businesses seeking cost-efficient blockchain solutions.
This growth positions TRON as a leading player in the competitive blockchain ecosystem, setting benchmarks for others to follow.
Source: Bitcoin.com
MIGMIG Partners With XT.com to Bring Blockchain Rewards
MIGMIG, a blockchain gaming and rewards platform, has partnered with XT.com to expand its reach and user engagement. This collaboration aims to deliver unique blockchain-powered rewards while enhancing the gaming experience for users worldwide.
The partnership highlights the increasing intersection of blockchain technology and entertainment, opening new avenues for user interaction.
Source: Bitcoinist
Nano Labs Supports the Inaugural Presidential Crypto Ball
Nano Labs has announced a partnership with the Inaugural Presidential Crypto Ball, emphasizing its commitment to fostering blockchain awareness. This high-profile event aims to bridge the gap between blockchain innovators and policymakers, paving the way for broader adoption.
The initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between the blockchain community and governmental bodies to shape the future of digital assets.
Source: PR Newswire
Bybit Card Partners With EnTravel for Luxury Travel Perks
Bybit has teamed up with EnTravel to offer its cardholders exclusive discounts on luxury travel experiences. This partnership integrates blockchain-powered payment solutions with high-end travel services, providing users with unparalleled convenience and value.
The move exemplifies how blockchain technology can enhance traditional industries, offering innovative solutions tailored to modern consumer needs.
Source: PR Newswire
Key Insights and Industry Trends
- Decentralized Identity: Sony’s blockchain-based solution addresses growing concerns over online security and privacy.
- Economic Innovations: TRON’s revenue surge highlights the profitability of scalable blockchain networks.
- Gaming and Blockchain: Partnerships like MIGMIG and XT.com showcase the potential of blockchain in entertainment.
- Policy and Collaboration: Nano Labs’ involvement in the Crypto Ball underscores the importance of industry-government dialogue.
- Luxury Integration: Bybit and EnTravel demonstrate blockchain’s ability to enhance traditional services.
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