Regulatory & Crypto: Revolut cleared a key UAE step for crypto after Dubai’s VARA granted in-principle approval for its Virtual Assets Service Provider licence, paving the way for regulated buy/sell/hold in the main app and Revolut X. AI in Banking: BBVA is moving beyond satisfaction surveys by using generative AI to analyze large volumes of customer interactions across Spain and Mexico to spot needs and pain points faster, in line with data rules. Payments & Infrastructure: RAKBANK renewed its Mastercard partnership to push digital, embedded and next-gen payments, including card controls that reduce reliance on SMS one-time passwords. Open Finance & Onboarding: Vikar Technologies partnered with Plaid to embed account funding and identity verification into its platform, aiming to speed onboarding for community banks and credit unions. Wealth & Markets: BlackRock reported record $15.3tn AUM in Q2 on strong ETF demand and net inflows of $192bn, while iShares surpassed $6tn in assets. Fintech Growth (India): Angel One’s Q1 FY27 results showed consolidated net profit more than doubling to ₹2,314m as wealth and credit segments surged. Crypto Markets: Pump.fun’s PUMP jumped ~16% after a massive token unlock, with most unlocked tokens staying in recipient wallets rather than hitting exchanges. Fintech Governance: An Irish High Court ordered QPQ Ltd to disclose whether its lawsuit is funded in a way that could breach Ireland’s champerty rules. Digital Public Infrastructure: CSM Technologies won a World Bank-funded Malawi contract to build an electronic auctioning platform for transparent, auditable public procurement.