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LexisNexis Risk Solutions has signed an agreement to acquire document authentication and fraud detection solutions provider IDVerse. Terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition will enhance LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ ability to combat emerging threats such as AI-generated fraud and deepfakes.
As OCR Labs, IDVerse won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateAsia 2017.
LexisNexis Risk Solutions has agreed to acquire AI-powered automated document authentication and fraud detection solutions provider IDVerse. The company, which introduced itself to Finovate audiences at FinovateAsia 2017 as OCR Labs, will become a part of LexisNexis Risk Solutions Business Services.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
IDVerse leverages regenerative AI to fight fraud and deep fakes. The company’s technology is powered by a deep neural network which verifies the authenticity of more than 16,000 types of identity documents globally. Additionally, with consumer consent, IDVerse applies biometric algorithms for identity verification and liveness detection to identify potential fraud. With IDVerse’s technology, businesses can verify identities in seconds using just the applicant’s face and their smartphone.
“LexisNexis Risk Solutions has been at the forefront of enabling compliance and lowering risk for businesses worldwide for decades,” IDVerse CEO John Myers said. “We’re looking forward to seeing the impact our combined solutions and technology can make in improving outcomes for our clients against a fast-changing risk landscape.”
Thanks to a pre-existing alliance agreement, IDVerse’s solutions are already available via LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ platform. The acquisition will integrate IDVerse’s functionality across solutions and boost customer preparedness to manage emerging fraud threats. LexisNexis Risk Solutions has provided document authentication solutions since 2005, and its acquisition of IDVerse will add to the firm’s ability to combat new challenges such as AI-generated fraud.
“AI-powered solutions are necessary to counter the threat of AI-generated fraud attacks, including deepfakes,” said Rick Trainor, CEO of Business Services for LexisNexis Risk Solutions. “Integrating IDVerse’s advanced and complementary technology will further enhance our ability to provide the risk insights our clients need to defend against bad actors today and into the future — regardless of where our clients are in the world or where they do business.”
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and founded in 2017 as OCR Labs, the company won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateAsia 2017. The firm rebranded as IDVerse in 2023. With applications for account opening, KYC/AML, passwordless login, fraud prevention, and more, IDVerse’s solutions serve businesses in industries ranging from financial services and insurance to crypto and telecommunications. The company’s Zero Bias AI technology puts regenerative AI to work to help mitigate the potential for discrimination based on ethnicity, age, and gender. In addition to enhancing the ability to combat fraud and deepfakes, IDVerse’s Zero Bias AI technology significantly lowers associated risks.
Last month, IDVerse announced that it had signed a new identity infrastructure partnership with London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). The partnership will help LSEG scale global coverage and fight digital fraud during the customer onboarding process. In October, IDVerse announced it had onboarded iGaming identity verification and compliance solutions provider GlobalCheck and regulatory compliance solutions company BetComply. That month, IDVerse also announced that Hastings Direct Loans had automated its loan decisioning and identity verification processes using IDVerse’s identity tools.
How can banks and other financial institutions defend themselves and their customers and members against increasingly sophisticated, increasingly organized financial crime? What are the most challenging fraud threats and, critically, what tools and tactics are available to help institutions deal with them successfully?
We talked with Gus Tomlinson, Managing Director, Identity Fraud, with identity verification, location intelligence, and fraud prevention solutions provider GBG, about the challenges faced by companies and organizations when it comes to fighting evolving fraud threats.
Helping companies around the world onboard customers safely, fight fraud, and stay compliant, Tomlinson has more than a decade of experience in the identity industry. She has worked in strategic, commercial, data, and product roles and, this year, was named to Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35 roster for 2024.
Tomlinson is also a supporter of Women in Identity, a non-profit that promotes a more diverse workforce in the digital identity industry.
We wanted to talk with you about the spike in Synthetic Identity Fraud (SIF). What is SIF? What industries are being impacted most?
Gus Tomlinson: Synthetic identity fraud is a fraud tactic many businesses struggle to identify. This is because it uses a mix of genuine, stolen personally identifiable information (PII), and manufactured synthetic data to create a fake identity. This fabricated identity is then used to open accounts, make purchases, and commit other fraudulent activities.
The blending of real PII such as name and address with a different date of birth data for example, is common, and amongst more sophisticated scams, fraudsters will go beyond data to include fake identity documents, fake photos and videos, and even other biometric characteristics, like fingerprints. These ‘identities’ allow fraudsters to apply for low-friction accounts where there are no or limited checks to build up their credit history.
Often synthetic identity fraudsters will play the long game as their credit history improves – increasingly getting access to higher value finance and goods before disappearing without a trace, leaving the affected businesses trying to collect from people who never existed in the first place.
The industries particularly vulnerable to synthetic identity fraud are those that handle high value data and offer potential financial gains for fraudsters – financial services, gaming, and government sectors are key examples. Though it’s important to remember that all industries are vulnerable – fraudsters don’t limit their activities to one organization, sector, or even stop at national boundaries. They target where they see an opportunity.
What makes fighting SIF a challenge?
Tomlinson: Fighting synthetic identity fraud is a challenge due to the sheer scale it’s being – and has been – leveraged by fraudsters. The lack of preparation from businesses has led to them letting in huge numbers of sleeping identities that are now ready to attack.
Organizations need to act now as this threat will only continue to increase. On the dark web, thousands of sites are selling cheap bundles of identity data from billions of records stolen in cyberattacks and data breaches every year. All the info needed to impersonate someone is easily available within a few clicks and for a few dollars.
Digital identity is complicated, and synthetic identity fraud takes advantage of that by blending real and fake data to slip through the cracks. Technological advancements, such as Generative AI (GenAI), are also increasing the sophistication of synthetic identities, making it even harder to spot. To catch this kind of fraud, detection methods need to handle that complexity and use all the digital identity data out there to spot the fraud signals. Building up several layers of defense is critical.
How high on the list of priorities is this for companies? Do they understand the threat posed by SIF and other AI-powered fraud tactics?
Tomlinson: Fraud is hitting the bottom line – estimates show businesses are losing around five percent of their revenues to fraud annually. Now GenAI has given fraudsters new capabilities to work faster, scale attacks, and create more believable scams. The threat has risen to a new level.
As a result, digital identity verification and fraud prevention has moved from a tick box exercise to a business imperative and more than ever identity fraud is a boardroom topic.
While this is a step in the right direction, what is still missing is an appreciation for – or acceptance of – the true extent of the problem.
Synthetic identity fraud isn’t new, it’s been happening for years. Many organizations are far more exposed today than they might think.
What we see is that many companies try to ignore that the problem is already intrenched in their operations. They need to accept this part of the problem to truly protect against it.
You’ve spoken about “cross-sector industry collaboration” as key to helping deal with AI-powered fraud. Why is this the best strategy?
Tomlinson: Synthetic identity theft is just one of the fraudulent threats today. Businesses need to build a layered defense to fraud prevention to protect against current and new fraud tactics. For example, a combination of credit bureau data checks, mobile data, document verification, biometric checks and other alternative data, such as cross-sector intelligence, is a key part of a proven multi-layered approach that strengthens the identity verification process by providing a more robust and informed way of validating identity and spotting fraudsters.
Ultimately, it’s about leveraging the strengths of each component. AI can process vast amounts of data and identify patterns quickly. Human fraud experts bring critical thinking and experience to interpret AI findings and make nuanced decisions. Cross-sector collaboration allows for sharing of intelligence and best practices, making it harder for fraudsters to exploit gaps between industries and organizations.
How difficult is it to coordinate all those pieces into a coherent, fraud-fighting operation?
Tomlinson: It shouldn’t be complex for organizations – identity experts like us are doing the hard work in the background to bring everything together – that’s why we exist! Plug-in onboarding systems are available to orchestrate identity verification at an intelligent, adaptable level. These identity verification and fraud prevention technologies deliver greater speed and accuracy, calculating the absence or presence of fraud signals and adjusting the customer journey accordingly so there is minimal friction for genuine customers.
How can effective fraud-fighting co-exist with the kind of seamless, real-time experience that consumers have come to expect?
Tomlinson: Actually, more than ever consumers value and prioritize security over convenience. In fact, our latest Global Fraud Report revealed 68% of U.S. customers place greater importance on the security of the onboarding process over its speed.
In the recent past, with organizations fighting in competitive landscapes to provide the best onboarding customer experience, reducing friction has been seen as critical. However, as fraud, data breaches and security news stories increasingly become dinner-party conversations, consumers are more actively looking for and comforted by visible security measures. Now, it’s critical for organizations to understand that friction doesn’t equal a bad customer experience.
With cross-sector intelligence, organizations can detect bad, good, and great customer prospects and give them a tailored experience corresponding to their risk level, including when and how to use step-up authentication through documents or biometrics in this time of increasing use of GenAI by fraudsters.
What is GBG doing specifically to help businesses combat SIF and other forms of AI-powered fraud?
Tomlinson: Data tells a story and we help you read it. We understand the data that is being presented and verify against it, giving businesses clarity on exactly what they are making decisions on. This is fundamental to preventing synthetic identity fraud.
While GenAI is making fraud tactics smarter, the same is true for fraud detection and prevention. Our solutions leverage AI to quickly sort through and scrutinize huge amounts of digital data, flagging identities that are high, medium, and low trust. We also implement injection attack detection technology for the new era of synthetic identities where fraudsters are matching data with biometric images.
Critically, we layer documents, biometrics, digital, and data checks to give businesses complete defense. Our multi-layered approach strengthens the identity verification process by providing a more robust and informed way of validating identity and spotting fraudsters.
Looking to 2025, what do you expect to see in terms of new trends in the fraud and financial crime landscape?
Tomlinson: In the coming year, expect to see:
A rapid pace of attack – established organized crime groups have made fraud their profession and stable source of income. GenAI combined with the industrialization of fraud means more fraud at a faster pace.
Brand damage attacks and an ulterior motive of fraudsters – the damage to a business’ reputation can cause more financial loss than the actual fraud itself. This is a powerful tool for a malicious actor to have in their toolbox.
Increased cross-border fraud – fraudsters don’t limit their activities to one organization, sector, or even stop at national boundaries. They target where they see an opportunity, which is increasingly cross border attacks.
Fraudsters recycle old methods –as companies pivot to defend against new fraud vectors with the latest technology, we’ll see fraudsters go back and use old fraud tactics to see if they can find a re-opened gap in the system to slip through. Businesses can’t afford to get complacent.
Moneyhub has teamed up with intelligent money management app Marygold & Co. UK.
The partnership will integrate Moneyhub’s Account Information and Payment Initiation Services (AIS and PIS) functionality into Marygold’s new wealth app, slated to be released next year.
Moneyhub made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2015 in London.
Data, intelligence, and payments company Moneyhubannounced a partnership with intelligent money management app provider Marygold & Co. UK. Through the partnership, Moneyhub will provide Account Information and Payment Initiation Services (AIS and PIS) for Marygold’s new wealth app, scheduled to go live in 2025.
“Given our aligned aims of improving the country’s financial wellbeing through innovation, we’re very pleased to be partnering with Marygold & Co. UK as they prepare for launch,” Moneyhub Managing Director of API Kim Jenkins said. “Armed with a myriad of Open Banking and Open Finance-enabled tools, the app is set to deliver fantastic outcomes for consumers and businesses alike.”
Marygold’s app will make it easier for customers to save without having to switch bank accounts. The solution features customizable reminders, automated savings nudges, special savings pools, as well as hidden “piggy bank” options and secure, me-to-me transfer functionality. Users’ savings earn competitive interest rates and the app also has a number of features that help provide financial oversight for elderly and vulnerable users. Small businesses using the app also benefit from competitive interest rates on their working capital and cash.
“Our partnership with Moneyhub underscores our commitment to delivering a truly transformative financial management experience,” Marygold & Co. UK CEO Matthew Parden said. “By leveraging Moneyhub’s advanced Account Information and Payment initiation Services, we’re able to offer our users unparalleled insights and control over their finances, making it easier than ever to save, manage, and grow their wealth securely and efficiently.”
Marygold & Co. UK is backed by the Marygold Companies, a publicly-held firm that trades on the NYSE under the ticker MGLD. The company was launched in 2021 to make acquisitions in the U.K. for its U.S.-based parent. Marygold & Co. UK provides wealth management and savings services to customers in the U.K., combining app-based functionality with access to qualified financial advisors. Last month, Marygold & Co. UK announced a partnership with U.K. fintech bank Griffin that allowed the firm to embed savings accounts in its app. Earlier this year, the company acquired U.K.-based investment advisory firm Step-By-Step Financial Planners Limited (SBS). The acquisition was Marygold & Co. UK’s second, having acquired U.K.-based financial advisory firm Tiger Financial & Asset Management Limited in 2022.
Moneyhub made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2015 in London and returned to the Finovate stage two years later for FinovateEurope 2017. The data, intelligence, and payments company develops software for Open Banking, Open Finance, and Open Data applications. Moneyhub’s platform enables businesses in industries from finance to retail to transform their data into personalized digital experiences and initiate payments.
Moneyhub’s partnership announcement with Marygold & Co. UK comes just days after the company announced that it was working with WPS Advisory to help the independent financial advice firm launch its financial confidence app LifeStage. Designed to supplement the firm’s personalized financial guidance and advice service for employees, LifeStage enables users to better understand their incomes, expenses, savings, debts, and investments and to share selected information with WPS Advisory.
“Our aim is to make financial advice, typically provided through the workplace, as accessible and cost-effective as possible,” WPS Advisory Head of Strategy Natalie Oliver said. “Technology integrations play a vital role in achieving this goal.”
Interested in demoing at FinovateEurope 2025 in London? Applications are still being accepted from innovative companies with new solutions that are ready to show. Visit our FinovateEurope hub today to learn more.
Finovate Global is back! This week’s edition leads off with stories about financial institutions around the world that are seeking to better serve their customers by offering a broader range of Shariah-compliant solutions.
Gatehouse Bank partners with ColCap UK for Shariah-compliant home financing
A new partnership between Gatehouse Bank and ColCap UK will help bring Shariah-compliant home finance to more U.K. prospective homebuyers. The partnership includes a forward flow arrangement to originate more than £550 million in Shariah-compliant home financing for ColCap UK over an initial two-year period.
Gatehouse Bank noted that it will continue to generate its own originations onto its balance sheet via its own home financing offering.
“We have seen a considerable increase in demand for our products and services over the last five years and this agreement highlights the bank’s credibility as a leading Islamic finance provider in the U.K.” Gatehouse Bank CEO Charles Haresnape said.
Founded in 2007, Gatehouse Bank is a Shariah-compliant bank that provides savings products and financing for commercial and residential real estate in the U.K. The bank offers personal and commercial deposits that ensure Shariah-compliance, for example, by providing an expected profit rate (EPR) rather than an interest rate. The accounts are invested in Shariah-compliant investments and accountholders receive a share of the profits as a return on their accounts.
Additionally, Gatehouse Bank offers home financing via what is often referred to as an “Islamic Mortgage,” in which homebuyers purchase the property jointly with the bank, and is ownership transferred to the buyer after all payments are made at the end of the term. The bank also provides Shariah-compliant Buy-to-Let purchase plans and has launched multiple Private Rented Sector (PRS) investments since 2014.
“This forward flow arrangement positions us to meet the growing demand for Sharia-compliant financing,” ColCap UK’s Executive Director and COO Esther Morley said. “Combining Gatehouse’s and ColCap’s expertise, we’re confident this collaboration will deliver significant value and reinforce ColCap UK’s leadership in ethical finance.”
A subsidiary of ColCap Financial Group, a residential home finance specialist based in Australia, ColCap has offered residential property financing in the U.K. since 2022.
Offa acquires Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq Sharia-compliant home finance portfolio
A major acquisition by U.K. Islamic proptech Offa will give customers a wider range of Shariah-compliant property financing solutions. Birmingham-based Offa has acquired Bank of Ireland’s Alburaq portfolio, valued at $21.6 million (£17 million). This gives the fintech one of the oldest Shariah-compliant home financing products ever launched in the U.K., which include more than 350 home purchase plans.
“It is a testament to Offa’s abilities that Bank of Ireland has agreed to sell their Islamic home finance portfolio to us,” Offa Chief Financial Officer Amir Firdaus said. “This marks another chapter in Offa’s ambitious growth plans. Members of the Offa executive team are already very much familiar with Alburaq’s clients, having helped distribute this book almost two decades ago, and we are delighted that these customers are now coming home to us.”
Offa’s acquisition will revive a product that has not been available to new customers since 2009. Alburaq was launched as the U.K.’s first Shariah-compliant structured deposit solution in 2008 via a partnership between Bank of Ireland and Arab Banking Corporation’s U.K. division. This week, a spokesperson for Bank of Ireland reported that “the sale of the small remaining portfolio will provide customers with access to a wider range of Sharia-compliant property re-financing options.”
Founded in 2019, Offa calls itself as the first financial institution in the U.K. to acquire an Islamic home-finance book. The U.K.’s first Shariah-compliant bridging lender, Offa introduced its Buy-to-Let (BTL) offering this summer and, back in February, announced a partnership to use finova’s Apprivo origination platform to power its Shariah-compliant digital lending solution.
Premier Bank and Mastercard launch Shariah-compliant cards in Kenya
Proptech and mortgagetech are not the only fields where Shariah-compliant fintech innovation is growing. A newly announced partnership between Kenya-based Islamic financial institution Premier Bank and Mastercard will provide a suite of Shariah-compliant debit, credit, and prepaid cards
The suite will offer features such as contactless payments and global acceptance. Cardholders will be able to make safe and convenient online payments, transact at brick-and-mortar stores, and withdraw cash from Premier Bank ATMs across the country. The suite also provides benefits including Lounge Access through the World Elite Card, travel insurance, and localized offers such as dining discounts via Uber Eats and travel discounts with major airlines.
“The introduction of Shariah-compliant Premier Mastercard suite is not merely a product launch. It is a strategic initiative that exemplifies our commitment to enabling communities with secure, convenient, and tailored financial services,” Mastercard SVP and County Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands Shehryar Ali said. “As Kenya continues to embrace digital transformation, this initiative will play a pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive financial landscape that caters to the evolving needs of individuals and businesses across the country.”
Launched in 2023, Premier Bank was born via the acquisition of the majority shares in First Community Bank, which was founded in 2007. Headquartered in Nairobi, the bank has assets of more than $23 billion as reported in the 2023 Central Bank of Kenya’s Bank Supervision Annual Report. The financial institution opened its 22nd branch earlier this year.
Here is our look at fintech innovation around the world.
Central and Eastern Europe
Polish identity verification platform Authologic raised $8.2 million to fight AI-powered fraud.
The central bank of Latvia to offer fast track pre-approval for MiCA compliance.
German fintech 21X secured approval for its blockchain-based tokenization platform.
Middle East and Northern Africa
Crypto.com launched its Mastercard-powered card in Bahrain as part of its expansion in the Gulf region.
Backbase inked a distribution and integration deal with Morocco-based consultancy and AI solutions integrator Seven.
Kazakhstan-based banking and fintech company Kaspi.kz acquired a majority stake in Turkish e-commerce technology platform, Hepsiburada.
Central Asian digital banking ecosystem TBC Uzbekistan launched its own payment processing center.
Nepalese fintech Fonepay partnered with U.K.-based Compass Plus Technologies to offer the country’s first virtual credit card.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Spanish banking group Santander introduced its digital Openbank in Mexico.
Mastercardteamed up with Brazilian events platform Sympla and Latin American payments orchestrator Yuno to bring its Payment Passkey Service to the region.
Nuvei launched blockchain-based payments in Latin America.
Asia-Pacific
Payments company Tyrolaunched its embedded payments solution that makes it easier for businesses to accept tap-to-pay payments.
Filipino-based fintech Starpay teamed up with distributed database solutions provider OceanBase.
Financial servcies platform Atome forged a payment checkout partnership with Valiram in Singapore and Malaysia.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Kenya-based Islamic financial institution Premier Bank unveiled a suite of Shariah compliance payments solutions courtesy of a partnership with Mastercard.
CNBC Africa profiled Rwanda’s Kigali International Finance Centre and its new fintech strategy.
Visa announced investment in four African fintechs — Oze, Workpay, OkHi, and ORDA — that graduated from its Africa Fintech Accelerator program.
This week on 5 Tales from the Crypto, we lead-off with President-elect Trump’s nominee for SEC chair and that nominee’s attitudes toward the crypto industry. We also look at a new blockchain banking app, and a pair of partnerships designed to boost crypto trading security and tax compliance, respectively.
Trump nominates Paul Atkins as SEC chair
Of all of President-elect Trump’s nominations, his nominee for SEC chair is the one most anticipated by many in the crypto community. Having pledged to fire current SEC chairman Gary Gensler “on day one,” Trump has this week nominated an individual widely believed to be a significant “advocate” of the cryptocurrency industry: Paul Atkins.
“(Atkins) believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World,” Trump noted on social media platform Truth Social. “He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.”
Atkins is currently CEO of financial services consultancy Patomak Global Partners, and served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008. He is credited for emphasizing the importance of investor education, having been part of the resolution of one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in history — the Bennett Funding Group case. Atkins also previously served in the first Trump administration as a member of the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum, an advisory group of business leaders that focused on job creation and economic growth initiatives.
As far as Atkins’ specific “crypto bonafides” go, he joined a cryptocurrency advocacy group, Token Alliance, in 2017, and is co-chair of the organization. The alliance is a project of the Chamber of Digital Commerce dedicated to promoting best practices and policies for cryptocurrencies, tokenized networks, and digital assets.
What are the early impressions from the crypto community? Carlos Domingo, Founder and CEO of digital securities compliance platform Securitize, told interviewers on Yahoo! Finance that he was “very excited” at the prospect of Atkins as SEC chair, referring to Atkins as “very pro digital assets, and very knowledgeable in the industry.” Similarly, Joe McCann, Founder, CEO, and CIO of digital assets investment firm Asymmetric told CNBC that Atkins’ call for greater clarification of the SEC’s SAB-121 rule with regard to how institutions must account for cryptoassets in their custody showed Atkins to be someone who would bring “common sense to the SEC.”
Former Revolut pair launch blockchain banking app
Catching up on news from our last edition of 5 Tales from the Crypto, we note that a pair of former-Revolut employees — Joao Alves and Guilherme Gomes — have launched a new, self-custodial stablecoin app with accompanying Mastercard debit card. The app, called Bleap, enables users to spend stablecoins without having to pay conversion fees. Users can add stablecoins from external wallets to their Bleap app or add them by buying stablecoins using fiat currency. The app supports multi-currency accounts with savings rates that can offer as much as 5x compared to traditional banks. Bleap also supports fee-free crypto on- and off-ramping through external wallet connections.
The launch announcement comes as the company reports securing $2.3 million in pre-seed funding at a pre-money valuation of $10 million. The investment round was led by Ethereal Ventures and featured participation from Maven11, Alliance DAO, Robot Ventures, as well as angel investors from Revolut, cryptocurrency wallet Phantom, cryptocurrency exchange OKX, Ethereum access network EigenLayer, and Consensys.
Currently in beta with select European users, Bleap is slated for public launch in the first quarter of 2025.
cheqd partners with ID Crypt Global
Digital identity and security company ID Crypt Global has teamed up with payment and trust infrastructure for identity and trust specialist cheqd. The two companies will work together to provide Apex Digital Exchange (ADEX) with enhanced identity and security capabilities. This will enable the exchange to better serve its customers and make it easier for more traditional financial services companies to participate in decentralized finance (DeFi).
The partnership is designed to tackle two issues that are slowing wider embrace of crypto trading for many investors: usability and trust in identity. To this end, cheqd integrates seamlessly with the ADEX platform to provide SSI-based onboarding, privacy-preserving identity verification, and continuous KYC and AML checks. Additionally, cheqd’s payment model supports new, more cost-effective ways to monetize verifiable credentials. For example, the partnership will enable ADEX to offer verified users lower cost trading or other rewards, linking verifiable identity to transaction affordability. Combined with ID Crypt Global’s identity verification and risk screening, ADEX will be able to offer a streamlined, lower-cost user experience for its customers while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Founded in 2021 and headquartered in London, cheqd provides payment and trust infrastructure for credentials and verifiable AI. The company provides customized network offerings and supports multiple credential formats for identity frameworks including eIADS 2.0 in Europe and beyond. The company has raised $3.3 million funding according to Crunchbase, and includes Bluenode Capital and Bixin Ventures among its investors.
Bison integrates with tax reporting platform Blockpit
The road to hell may be paved with good intentions. But the road to mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies will need to be well-macadamized with compliant crypto tax reporting.
To this end, cryptocurrency trading app BISON has announced its integration with crypto tax reporting platform Blockpit. Currently available in the BISON mobile app, the integration will make it easier for BISON users to accurately pay any cryptocurrency-related taxes.
“Taxes on cryptocurrencies can be complex,” BISON CEO and Co-founder Ulli Spankowski noted. “At BISON, we are committed to providing our customers (with) simple, secure, and reliable solutions. Partnering with Blockpit, a leading provider in crypto tax reporting, is a logical step forward. Thanks to this collaboration, we deliver real added value to approximately 870,000 BISON customers by significantly reducing the tax-related challenges of crypto trading.”
Founded in 2017, Blockpit enables its more than 350,000 customers worldwide to track their crypto portfolios, optimize their taxes, and create compliant tax reports. Based in Austria and Germany, the company has generated more than one million tax reports since inception, and processed more than 500 million transactions.
Headquartered in Germany, BISON is powered by the Boerse Stuttgart Group. The first crypto trading app to be supported by a traditional securities exchange, BISON was founded in 2019 and is active in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The app offers trading in 27 cryptocurrencies including BTC and ETH, as well as in more than 2,500 stocks and exchange-traded products (ETPs).
HTX introduces crypto lending product
Global digital asset trading platform HTX launched its Crypto Loans product this week. The new offering features dynamic interest rates, high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, no loan limits, and zero fees,
Loans can be secured in USDT, BTC, and ETH; the same currencies are also accepted as collateral assets. HTX noted that it plans to expand the number of loanable and collateral assets.
As part of the launch, the platform is kicking off a “Borrow & Earn” event with a prize pool of 2,700,000,000 $HTX. Running from December 2 through December 8, the event will split the prize among those users who borrow USDT via Flexible Crypto Loan. Prize allotments will be based on the proportion of the users’ interest expenses relative to the platform’s total interest income from the product.
Founded in 2013 by Chairman Leon Li, HTX has grown from a digital asset exchange to an ecosystem of blockchain businesses involved in financial derivatives, investment, digital asset trading, and more. Changing its name from Huobi to HTX in 2023, the company has more than 47 million registered users around the globe.
Michigan-based Mahalo Banking announced a partnership with Indiana-based Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union (Solidarity CFCU).
The credit union chose Mahalo’s technology for its enhanced security features and ability to integrate with its core provider, Corelation Keystone.
Mahalo Banking won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateFall 2023 in New York.
Mahalo Banking, which won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at FinovateFall 2023, has teamed up with Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union (Solidarity CFCU).
Solidarity CFCU, headquartered in Kokomo, Indiana, chose Mahalo’s platform for its enhanced security features and its ability to readily integrate with its core provider, Corelation Keystone. The credit union also credited the platform’s intuitive design and streamlined processes, which, combined with Mahalo’s proactive approach to security, align well with Solidarity CFCU’s commitment to member security and convenience.
“Our top priority is to provide members with a secure, user-friendly digital experience,” Solidarity CFCU CEO Amy Benner said. “Mahalo is on the cutting-edge of security, and their dedication to staying ahead of emerging fraud threats makes us confident in our partnership decision. Their neurodiversity support, with options like colorblindness views and left- and right-hand modes, outshines other providers in terms of accessibility. We are thrilled about this new chapter and the positive impact it will bring to our members.”
With regard to security, Mahalo’s platform leverages Credential Assurance Technology (C.A.T.) to protect credit union data from fraud and to enhance overall digital security. The company’s Thoughtful Banking technology delivers a variety of neurodiverse solutions to ensure a consistent, accessible experience for all members. Mahalo’s platform provides simplified account and loan opening functionalities, which the credit union believes will help it compete with digital-first challengers for younger customers. The platform also supports charitable giving, with an option to enable members to make charitable contributions at any time directly through the platform.
Nevertheless, the challenges of combating fraud remained at the top of the list as Mahalo Banking COO Denny Howell explained. “With rising fraud incidents across the industry, maintaining robust security measures is essential to safeguarding member accounts and data,” Howell said. “Our team is dedicated to delivering a best-in-class platform that not only meets today’s security needs but also anticipates future challenges to ensure our credit union partners like Solidarity CFCU can safeguard against emerging threats and provide peace of mind for its members.”
Solidarity CFCU is only one of a handful of credit unions Mahalo Banking has partnered with in recent weeks. In November, the fintech teamed up with Four Points FCU to upgrade the Omaha, Nebraska-based credit union’s digital capabilities and enhance member self-service. Mahalo also last month announced a partnership with Glendale Area Schools Credit Union to support growth and improve the member experience for the California-based financial institution. Just a few weeks ago, Mahalo reported that both Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Credit Union and UnitedOne Credit Union of Wisconsin had gone live on Mahalo’s enhanced Thoughtful Banking platform.
“Working with the Mahalo team is a true partnership,” Rocky Mountain Credit Union SVP Erin Johnston said. “The enhancements brought on by the latest version have been appreciated by our staff and membership. Many of the changes were asked for by their clients and their membership base, making the transition a welcome update.”
Founded in 2018, Mahalo Banking is headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Jim Stickley is CEO.
Belgian regtech Harmoney has acquired compliance specialist APPC, a subsidiary of the Forsides Group.
The acquisition will provide APPC clients with a broader range of tools to fight challenges ranging from anti-money laundering (AML) to counter-terrorism financing (CTF).
Harmoney made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2022 in London.
Belgium-based regtech Harmoneyannounced its acquisition of APPC, the compliance-oriented subsidiary of the Forsides Group. The acquisition will enable Harmoney to offer a streamlined, all-in-one compliance solution to financial institutions (FIs), integrating all regulatory operations on a single platform and empowering FIs to maintain compliance with the ever-changing regulatory environment.
The acquisition comes after five years of collaboration between Harmoney and the APPC team. This collaboration has yielded flexible, customized solutions to help FIs deal with challenges ranging from anti-money laundering (AML) to counter-terrorist financing (CTF). Post-acquisition, the APPC brand will remain intact; its services will be enhanced and expanded via Harmoney’s offerings. This will provide APPC clients with access to an even broader range of compliance solutions. APPC clients will also benefit from the expertise of the Harmoney team which offers a cost-efficient approach to compliance and comprehensive coverage to complex corporate structures.
“Our long-standing partnership with APPC has paved the way for this exciting new chapter,” Harmoney CEO Thomas Van Maele said. “By integrating all regulatory processes onto a single platform, we’re able to merge advanced technology with expert support from two expert teams that share the same values and dedication to compliance.”
Founded in 2016, Harmoney made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2022 in London. At the conference, the company demonstrated the workflow orchestration of a digital reboarding of a private customer. The workflow includes identification, authentication, and risk screening that provides an overall risk score that enables compliance teams to conduct due diligence and, ultimately, determine acceptance, escalation, or rejection.
This summer, Harmoney announced that it was teaming up with Discai, a subsidiary of KBC Group, which leverages data science and financial expertise to help banks and other financial institutions combat financial crime. The two companies launched an integrated AML solution for FIs that combines Discai’s AI-based alert system with Harmoney’s end-to-end case and process management platform. Also this year, Belgian banking solutions collaborative Isabel Group announced that Harmoney would be the first integration partner for its newly launched verified corporate data hub.
Harmoney has raised $5.3 million (€6 million) in funding according to Crunchbase, courtesy of a seed round in 2023.
Interested in demoing at FinovateEurope 2025 in London? Applications are still being accepted from innovative companies with new solutions that are ready to show. Visit our FinovateEurope hub today to learn more.
This week in Finovate’s Fintech Rundown, we highlight big fundraisings in wealthtech and mortgagetech, as well as an acquisition in the world of money movement. Check back all week long as the Fintech Rundown keeps you informed on the latest news in fintech!
Wealth management
Global wealthtech solutions provider Masttroannounces upgrades to its platform, including real-time wealth visualization and AI-powered efficiency.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) agrees to acquire Japanese robo-advisory firm WealthNavi for $664 million.
Cryptocurrencies
Taiwan expedites implementation of its new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations for cryptocurrency companies.
Razorpayteams up with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to boost cybersecurity for digital payments in India.
Finovate Best of Show winner Themislaunches KYC/AML company, Tathabbat, in Saudi Arabia. Check out our recent Finovate podcast interview with Themis Founder and CEO Neepa Patel.
Digital identity solutions provider Signicat has teamed up with data specialist AsiaVerify.
The strategic partnership will help businesses looking to expand from Europe to Asia, and vice versa, meet local regulatory compliance requirements with regards to KYC, KYB, and UBO.
Headquartered in Norway, Signicat made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2017 in London.
Digital identity and fraud prevention solutions provider Signicat has forged a strategic partnership with APAC-region data specialist AsiaVerify. The partnership will enable Signicat to expand its reach across the Asia-Pacific region, helping businesses comply with local regulations as they seek to expand their operations from APAC to Europe and from Europe to APAC.
“Our globally compliant digital identity solutions enable us to support our customers’ expansion needs wherever they grow,” Signicat Chief Product and Marketing Officer Pinar Alpay said. “This partnership enriches our capabilities in the Asia-Pacific, offering our clients more localized data to expand confidently into this high-growth market while maintaining compliance with regional and global standards.”
AsiaVerify is Signicat’s first APAC-specific data provider, offering real-time access to authoritative data from official sources in countries like China and Singapore. The partnership will help businesses looking to enter the APAC region by making it easier for them to navigate, manage, and comply with often complex local regulatory requirements.
AsiaVerify provides real-time access to critical data from trusted sources to support Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) identification in companies throughout Asia. AsiaVerify’s platform delivers instant access to translated records from more than 344 million companies, more than 106 million alerts including court records and bankruptcies, and more than 2.9 billion individuals including government IDs, phone numbers, watchlists, and more.
“Asia presents vast opportunities for growth and expansion, yet it also brings unique challenges, particularly around meeting local regulatory demands,” AsiaVerify Head of U.K. and Europe Joanna Wands said. “Addressing these challenges is at the heart of what we do, and we felt a strong alignment with Signicat in this shared commitment to addressing industry challenges effectively.”
Norway-based Signicat made its Finovate debut at FinovateEurope 2017 in London. Today, more than 13,000 companies around the world use Signicat’s digital identity solutions. Signicat’s identity platform manages the entire customer lifecycle from compliant onboarding and secure login to electronic signing and orchestration. The company supports 240+ data sources to facilitate business and individual identification, including national eIDs, ID document scanning and biometric verification, as well as data sources for AML, KYC, and KYB checks.
Last month, Signicat was featured in the first edition of Europe’s Long-Term Growth Champions 2025 published by Financial Times and Statista. Also in October, the company unveiled its Open Banking Hub, which provides businesses with a secure and consensual way to verify an individual’s personal information via their banking account. The Open Banking Hub provides broader identity verification options for customers, and greater security for businesses when verifying bank account ownership, affordability, or account information.
Founded in 2007, Signicat is led by CEO Asger Hattel.
Interested in demoing at FinovateEurope 2025 in London? Applications are still being accepted from innovative companies with new solutions that are ready to show. Visit our FinovateEurope hub today to learn more.
Agentic AI solutions provider for community banks and credit unions, interface.ai, has introduced a pair of new tools to help fight deepfake fraud. The company has launched two flagship products — device biometric authentication and Generative AI (GenAI) bot training — designed to help financial institutions defend themselves and their customers from fraud and unauthorized access.
interface.ai’s device biometrics solution uses device-based fingerprint and facial recognition technology to authenticate users over voice and chat AI. The new technology builds on the company’s risk-based, multi-factor authentication system, combining device and voice biometrics, AI-driven analysis, and caller anti-spoofing to protect users against evolving fraud threats while minimizing friction.
“Security in financial services demands constant innovation,” interface.ai CEO Srinivas Njay said. “With device biometrics, we are not just offering a new authentication method — we are enhancing our already formidable security framework, offering financial institutions the perfect balance of frictionless access and robust protection.”
interface.ai also unveiled a new, proprietary GenAI capability that enhances the speed of training highly capable AI-powered bots. Training AI bots typically involves manual scripts that delineate every question and response. This process is time-consuming and inefficient, insofar as much of the information a bot will provide already exists on the company’s website or within other readily available company resources. Instead, interface.ai’s new offering directs the AI to the company’s content where it automatically learns from the data and is able to provide accurate responses to customers on day one. Further, the AI bots continuously scan company content for updates to ensure that responses are accurate and current, all without requiring manual intervention.
“Our latest Generative AI capability provides a game-changing solution for financial institutions looking to scale their AI capabilities quickly and effectively,” Njay said. “By streamlining the chatbot training process, we are empowering banks and credit unions to harness the full potential of AI at a fraction of the cost and effort, while providing a more dynamic, conversational experience that resolves more queries.”
interface.ai won Best of Show in its Finovate debut at our all-digital conference, FinovateWest 2020. The company most recently demoed its technology at FinovateFall 2023, introducing Sphere, interface.ai’s GenAI-powered, multimodal, ChatGPT-like AI assistant for financial institutions. The solution is available in two iterations: Sphere for Customers and Sphere for Employees. The former replaces online mobile banking with an AI assistant that provides intelligent guidance and personalized assistance. The latter replaces up to 15 applications typically managed by frontline staff, boosting efficiency by 10x.
interface.ai’s latest launches are part of the company’s fall 2024 product release, which also features an expansion of its biometric consent options now offering integrations with DocuSign, IMM eSign, and Acrobat Sign. interface.ai also announced enhancements to its platform’s content organization that improve both efficiency and ease of use. This includes support for direct synchronization with SharePoint.
In other recent big news for the company, interface.ai secured $30 million in funding last month in a round led by Avataar Venture Partners. The first major investment for the bootstrapped-since-inception firm, the funding makes interface.ai “the most valuable AI company in banking” the company noted in a statement.
“This funding will allow us to accelerate the transformation of self-service in banking through agentic AI, delivering unified and hyper-personalized experiences that empower financial institutions’ customers and employees,” Njay said. “Our AI agents don’t just react — they anticipate needs, providing tailored advice and autonomously guide individuals toward long-term financial wellness.”
Headquartered in Covina, California, interface.ai was founded in 2019.
A holiday-shortened week begins with news of an acquisition, a new partnership, and a new solution to enhance lender-borrower communication. Be sure to check back all week long for updates on the latest headlines in fintech.
With markets near all-time highs and Bitcoin teasing the $100,000 mark, investors have become increasingly interested in new opportunities to diversify their investments, reduce risk, and grow their wealth. Unfortunately, there are many assets — from cryptocurrencies to real estate to art — that can be difficult for investors to access and incorporate in their overall investment plan.
In this month’s column, I caught up with Scott Harrigan, President of Alto and CEO of Alto Securities. Alto provides a self-directed investment platform that empowers investors to build their wealth by investing not just in stocks, but also in alternative investments, including cryptocurrencies. The platform supports more than 27,000 investors and has more than $1.4 billion in assets under custody.
Alto has three primary divisions: Alto Solutions, a self-directed IRA administrator; Alto Securities, a wholly-owned registered broker-dealer; and Alto Capital, an exempt reporting advisor that provides alternative investment opportunities to accredited investors. Alto Solutions made its Finovate debut at FinovateFall 2023 in New York with founder and CEO Eric Satz leading a demo of the company’s Alto IRA offering.
In this conversation, Harrigan talks about the pain points investors have when trying to integrate alternative investments into their portfolios and what Alto does to help resolve these issues. We also talked about the opportunities a growing number of investors are seeing in crypto and the challenge of making historically difficult-to-access private investments available to a broader community of investors.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Alto was founded in 2015.
What problem does Alto solve and who does it solve it for?
Scott Harrigan: Alto aims to lower the barrier to entry for alternative investments, making alternatives available within an IRA so investors can diversify their retirement savings, reap the benefits of reduced volatility, and have the potential to increase returns. Alto IRA account users can benefit from tax-advantaged investment options in a wide range of alternative assets, including private equity, venture capital, real estate, art, crypto and more, providing them with the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolio while planning for retirement.
How does Alto solve this problem better than other companies or solutions?
Harrigan: With the goal of lowering the barrier to entry, Alto addresses these two pain points: investors want to understand their various alternative investment options and they want easy access to these types of investments in a streamlined platform.
Alto is the only digitally native self-directed IRA provider with multiple alternative investment options. This is unique because many legacy IRA providers have been around for decades and continue to operate in the same fashion they always have, showing no urgency to grow or evolve. They are overlooking the importance of the digitally-oriented experiences that individuals demand these days. Alto understands the importance of being digital-first and bringing a seamless and enjoyable experience to investors.
As for providing multiple alternative investment options, we are forging diverse opportunities in how and where individuals invest their retirement dollars. Alto offers Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs so investors can select the right vehicle for their money based on their unique goals, and individuals have the option to put their retirement funds toward anything from biotech to bitcoin, wine to whiskey, and farmland to fine art.
Who are Alto’s primary customers and how do you reach them?
Harrigan: Our goal is to bring alternative investments to everyday investors, and we do this by removing the hurdles that have long prevented them from investing in this sector. There are three areas key to our success in expanding access and awareness. The first is expanding the number and type of investment opportunities offered, so that individuals have freedom of choice and can identify what options are right for them. The second is creating a user-friendly digital experience that makes investing in alternatives more approachable. Last, but certainly not least, is providing education, and disseminating more information and resources to help investors make confident investment decisions.
In addition to expanding our reach more broadly, we also curate opportunities for accredited investors. This past year, we launched Alto Marketplace, a new part of the Alto platform dedicated to curating private alternative investment opportunities for accredited investors. The platform allows eligible investors to invest in historically difficult-to-access private investments which are curated specifically by Alto. Investors now have access to private equity, venture capital, real estate, fine wine, art, and more, all in one platform.
Can you tell us about a favorite implementation or deployment of your technology?
Harrigan: Our technology provides investors access to unique investment opportunities in the alternatives space within an IRA. We provide opportunities for investors to build wealth beyond the stock market and diversify their retirement portfolio with alternative investments.
As part of our commitment to enabling individuals to invest in a wider variety of alternative assets, we were proud to go live with the Alto Marketplace this past year. Marketplace enables Alto’s users to enjoy a streamlined, consolidated investing experience as they explore offerings that range across a variety of different asset classes. Accredited investors can benefit from alternative assets that may offer portfolio diversification and a chance of achieving long-term financial stability in today’s volatile market.
What in your background gave you the confidence to tackle this challenge?
Harrigan: My experiences have helped me become deeply familiar with SEC and FINRA guidelines, critical to bringing fair, transparent and compliant opportunities to the everyday investor. Having worked in private markets for the past seven years, I gained a much deeper understanding of how alternative asset investment structures work and how we could work within regulatory guidelines to provide the access that we have today. Creating special purpose vehicles is complex, but we do it because we want to bring a modernized and simplified experience for investing in alternatives.
You recently announced a partnership with SignalRank? Why team up with SignalRank? What will this partnership accomplish?
Harrigan: As mentioned, we launched Alto Marketplace to curate exciting private alternative investment opportunities for investors. Partnering with SignalRank, the first private markets index made up of preferred Series B shares in high growth venture-backed companies, is in line with our commitment to provide investors with wider access to investment opportunities that, by nature, were formerly more exclusive.
We have had prior venture capital opportunities through our Marketplace, but SignalRank is unique in that its algorithm has successfully predicted successful transitions of Series B startups to billion dollar companies. This partnership will help us accomplish our goal to bring unique strategies that aren’t more widely publicly available, and have been largely limited to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors, to more investors. Alto’s special purpose vehicles bring investors these opportunities at lower thresholds, for example by lowering the minimum investment to $25,000 whereas typically it might be closer to $500,000 or even higher.
What excites you about the growth of the alternative asset market? Is there an education gap to be covered in order to get more eligible individual investors interested in alternative assets?
Harrigan: I am excited about how we’re in the early days for the alternatives space. The industry is just starting to recognize how big alternative investments will become in the next five years. If you don’t know what this business is about, you’re going to need to, because this is where wealth management is headed in the next five years.
Because we are in the early days, there is absolutely an education gap. Our original study found that a lack of familiarity with alternative investments was the most significant barrier to investing in these assets as part of a diversified retirement portfolio. One common misconception is that the long-term nature required of some alternative assets is a drawback. However, there is a definite advantage in combining the tax efficiency of self-directed IRAs with the extended investment horizons of alternatives. This long-term alignment allows investments to compound and realize strong returns.
As alternatives are poised on this incredible growth trajectory, we’re excited to be ahead of the curve in providing education on how Alto IRA account users can benefit from tax-advantaged portfolios and outsized returns.
What are your goals for Alto? What can we expect to hear from you in the months to come?
Harrigan: In 2025, we expect to bring a much larger variety of alternative investments to our platform. In 2024, we launched 15 deals, so we expect to continue on this momentum and bring investors even more optionality and choice.
We’re also keeping an eye on the preferences of Gen Z and Millennials, two groups that research shows are engaging with investments differently than the generations before them. Notably, those aged 21 to 43 are currently more likely to choose alternatives over stocks.
Last, we will continue to advance our proficiency in how we educate investors. We feel a significant obligation to provide investors with as much information as possible so that they can make informed, confident decisions about their retirement savings. In line with this strategy, we plan to focus on scaling information about and access to Alto CryptoIRA. Crypto presents an immense opportunity for investors to diversify their portfolios and realize greater returns. We want to make more individuals aware of the opportunity they have to invest in crypto as part of an IRA.
