Latest news with #financialinfrastructure
Finextra
2 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Lean Technologies receives regulatory approval under UAE's Open Finance Framework
Lean Technologies (Lean), the MENA region's leading financial infrastructure provider, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Central Bank of the UAE under the country's newly introduced Open Finance Framework. 0 The approval positions Lean as one of the leading providers of Open Finance services in the UAE, marking a key step toward full licensing and expanding access to secure, connected financial experiences for millions of customers. This development comes at a critical time, as individuals and businesses increasingly seek faster, transparent, and more personalised financial solutions. Open Finance is transforming how users make payments, access credit, and manage money, laying the groundwork for an inclusive and efficient financial ecosystem. With Lean's regulated infrastructure, users will soon benefit from instant account-to-account payments, faster loan approvals, and smarter financial tools, all designed around transparency, convenience, and control. "Open Finance is more than a technology upgrade. It's a foundation for a smarter, more innovative economy," said Hisham Al-Falih, CEO and Co-Founder of Lean Technologies. "By connecting customers, regulators, and businesses on a single, interoperable infrastructure, we're directly supporting the UAE's vision for a world-class digital financial system." Over the past four years, Lean has played a foundational role in enabling the country's transition to secure, interoperable financial connectivity. Lean works closely with regulators, banks, and fintechs to shape the systems that now support regulated access to payments and financial data. With over $2 billion in transaction volume and more than 1 million connected accounts, Lean's infrastructure powers real-world use cases across payments, lending, and personal finance, offering customers faster access to credit, easier checkouts, and intuitive budgeting experiences. 'With this approval, we're not just expanding our capabilities - we're expanding access,' said Al-Falih. 'We're enabling more people and businesses to participate fully in the digital economy.' The UAE's Open Finance Framework is a core pillar of national strategies such as UAE Centennial 2071 and the National Digital Economy Strategy. By enabling secure access to financial data, it empowers businesses to deliver smarter products, faster services, and seamless payments, driving greater financial inclusion and unlocking new opportunities for customers and businesses alike. 'Embedding Lean's financial infrastructure into our workflow has fundamentally strengthened our underwriting capabilities and boosted approval rates,' said Hosam Arab, CEO at Tabby. 'Over the past three years, it's helped us unlock lending segments that were previously inaccessible - enabling us to serve a broader base of users beyond the limits of traditional credit data.' Lean is a key contributor to the AlTareq initiative, supporting the nationwide rollout of Open Finance in partnership with regulators, banks, and fintechs. Its infrastructure, built to enterprise-grade security standards including ISO 27001 and SOC 2, has been tested at scale, consistently delivering high API uptime and low latency, trusted by leading financial institutions. 'Lean has been a key partner in modernising how we collect payments from our customers,' added Amira Sajwani, Managing Director at DAMAC Properties. 'Their team brought the right expertise to replace legacy processes with a faster, more seamless experience. Since adopting Lean, we've seen a clear shift toward digital payments and a meaningful improvement in our collection speed.' In 2022, Lean became the first third-party provider to receive a Financial Services Permission (FSP) from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). That same year, it was also approved for the regulatory sandbox of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), positioning Lean as a trusted infrastructure partner across the Gulf. Backed by over $100 million in funding from leading global and regional investors like General Catalyst and Bain Capital Ventures, the company is now focused on expanding its regulated services and scaling its platform across the UAE and broader MENA region. According to the Arab Monetary Fund , the MENA Open Finance market is expected to grow from $1.65 billion in 2022 to $11.74 billion by 2027, driven by strong demand for secure, tailored digital services. Lean is at the forefront of this shift, unlocking new opportunities to help users across the UAE access more tailored and convenient financial tools.
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
HKEX starts consultation on shortening settlement cycle in cash equities market
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) published a discussion paper outlining plans to shorten the settlement cycle in the cash equities market to further modernise its financial infrastructure. The city's bourse operator said the move would create a path for how and when to implement the idea as global financial markets had started adopting faster timelines, according to a document released on Wednesday. It aimed to build consensus and develop a detailed implementation timeline with views from other stakeholders, it added. Up to 88 per cent of global cash equities by trade value were expected to settle a day after trade, commonly known as T+1, HKEX said. The US has moved to T+1, while Australia and the European Economic Area are exploring similar transitions. Hong Kong has operated under a T+2 settlement cycle since 1992. 'In a rapidly evolving global market landscape, there is urgency to seek a way forward,' CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting said. As a market operator, HKEX was fully committed to 'ensuring that our financial ecosystem remains robust and fit for purpose', she added. HKEX was inviting feedback from all market participants until September 1, adding that any changes to the settlement cycle would be a multi-year process. The discussion would focus on secondary market transactions and exclude initial public offerings, it added. The paper detailed the pros and cons of shortening the cycle. Potential benefits included enhanced market efficiency, reduced systemic risk and closer alignment with global markets. Navigating time-zone differences, foreign-exchange impacts and shorter post-trade timelines were among major challenges, it noted.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Woman's ex-secret service dad reveals tips from his career
A woman whose dad was a Secret Service agent for over two decades has shared the safety tips he taught her - and the things she'd never do to avoid putting herself in danger. Ashley, who asked to keep her last name hidden for privacy reasons, 36, from Washington, D.C., explained exclusively to the that her father spent 25 years protecting political figures and investigating threats to the country's 'financial infrastructure'. 'The United States Secret Service entails two primary missions: protective services and criminal investigations,' she explained. 'On the protective side, Secret Service agents are responsible for the safety of the President, Vice President, their immediate families, former Presidents, visiting foreign dignitaries, and others as designated. 'On the investigative side, the Secret Service investigates financial and threats to the nation's financial infrastructure. 'My dad worked in both areas during his time as an agent, eventually becoming the special agent in charge of the presidential protective division, and later, the deputy assistant director of protective operations.' Along the way, Ashley explained that he learned a lot about how to keep himself and others safe, something he made sure to pass down to his daughter. The 'most important' piece of advice he gave her was to always 'use our situational awareness.' 'When entering a room, take a few seconds to locate the entrances and exits, know what is around you, and who's around you,' she dished. '[He also taught us] to always use our gut - if a situation feels off, it likely is.' Ashley explained that there are certain common things that she'd 'never do' because her dad taught her how dangerous they could actually be. She said she'd 'never share her location publicly, especially in real time,' or 'run alone in the dark.' '[I also would never] think 'it won't happen to me because I'm too smart, young, strong, etc,"' she added. '[My dad] always encouraged us to have a plan. [I'd also never] linger near my car, in my car, or in a parking lot. 'We were raised to walk with intention, get in our vehicles, lock the door and leave.' But most importantly, she said she'd never let 'fear stop her from doing what she loves.' 'Statistically, the odds of being a victim of a random crime is low, so be aware but keep living life,' she added. While being the daughter of a Secret Service agent certainly had its perks, she admitted that she looks back at her childhood with 'mixed emotions.' 'The Secret Service can't plan around graduations and birthdays and Halloweens,' she explained. 'So my dad missed out on a lot while I was growing up. But I got to experience some incredible things that very few people get to, and he's now made up for lost time tenfold in retirement.' Mother-of-two Ashley previously told SWNS that she never puts her children's names on backpacks or sits with her back towards the door in a public setting. 'My dad always took that position and now I do,' she said of the latter. 'It's so you can see. 'You want to be alert. You want your back towards the wall to be able to visualize the entrances.' She also warned against selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace or letting a date pick you up at your house. 'My dad always said don't let a stranger come to your house,' she explained. 'When I first started dating, my dad would say before you know their intentions to say "I'll meet you there." 'If it wasn't for my dad I probably wouldn't have thought twice about letting them pick me up. 'It does take away the naivety of growing up. You're always preparing for the worst case scenario.'
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE My dad was a secret service agent, here are the common things he taught me to NEVER do to keep myself safe
A woman who's dad was a Secret Service agent for over two decades has shared the vital safety tips he taught her - and the things she'd never do to avoid putting herself in danger. The woman, named Ashley, who asked to keep her last name hidden for privacy reasons, 36, from Washington, D.C., explained exclusively to the Daily Mail that her father spent 25 years protecting political figures and investigating threats to the country's 'financial infrastructure.' 'The United States Secret Service entails two primary missions: protective services and criminal investigations,' she explained. 'On the protective side, Secret Service agents are responsible for the safety of the President, Vice President, their immediate families, former Presidents, visiting foreign dignitaries, and others as designated. 'On the investigative side, the Secret Service investigates financial and threats to the nation's financial infrastructure. 'My dad worked in both areas during his time as an agent, eventually becoming the special agent in charge of the presidential protective division, and later, the deputy assistant director of protective operations.' Along the way, Ashley explained that he learned a lot about how to keep himself and others safe, something he made sure to pass down to his daughter. The 'most important' piece of advice he gave her was to always 'use our situational awareness.' 'When entering a room, take a few seconds to locate the entrances and exits, know what is around you, and who's around you,' she dished. '[He also taught us] to always use our gut - if a situation feels off, it likely is.' Ashley explained that there are certain common things that she'd 'never do' because her dad taught her how dangerous they could actually be. She said she'd 'never share her location publicly, especially in real time,' or 'run alone in the dark.' '[I also would never] think 'it won't happen to me because I'm too smart, young, strong, etc,"' she added. '[My dad] always encouraged us to have a plan. [I'd also never] linger near my car, in my car, or in a parking lot. 'We were raised to walk with intention, get in our vehicles, lock and door and leave.' But most importantly, she said she'd never let 'fear stop her from doing what she loves.' 'Statistically, the odds of being a victim of a random crime is low, so be aware but keep living life,' she added. While being the daughter of a Secret Service agent certainly had its perks, she admitted that she looks back at her childhood with 'mixed emotions.' 'The Secret Service can't plan around graduations and birthdays and Halloweens,' she explained. 'So my dad missed out on a lot while I was growing up. But I got to experience some incredible things that very few people get to, and he's now made up for lost time tenfold in retirement.' Mother-of-two Ashley previously told SWNS that she never puts her children's names on backpacks or sits with her back towards the door in a public setting. 'My dad always took that position and now I do,' she said of the latter. 'It's so you can see. 'You want to be alert. You want your back towards the wall to be able to visualize the entrances.' She also warned against selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace or letting a date pick you up at your house. 'My dad always said don't let a stranger come to your house,' she explained. 'When I first started dating, my dad would say before you know their intentions to say "I'll meet you there." 'If it wasn't for my dad I probably wouldn't have thought twice about letting them pick me up. 'It does take away the naivety of growing up. You're always preparing for the worst case scenario.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
These two platforms are quietly rebuilding crypto's reputation
These two platforms are quietly rebuilding crypto's reputation originally appeared on TheStreet. As crypto grows up, it's not just about tokens and trading anymore. From the ashes of speculation-heavy platforms, a new class of fintech-minded players is emerging—designed not just for crypto natives, but for everyday users. And two companies at the forefront of this evolution are Moomoo and CoinCorner. Both take vastly different approaches. Moomoo is a mobile-first investing app born from traditional equities, while CoinCorner is a long-standing Bitcoin platform from the U.K. But they share a common mission: turning crypto into real financial infrastructure. With over 26 million users across eight global markets, Moomoo has made a name for itself as a commission-free stock trading app. But it's not stopping there. 'Moomoo offers a professional-level trading experience for everyday investors,' said Neil McDonald to TheStreet Roundtable, CEO of Moomoo USA. That experience is more than just access. The app equips users with institutional-grade features, including free level-2 market data (for accounts with a 30-day average balance of just $100), patented charting tools, options strategy builders, no-code algo trading, and backtesting—all for free. 'This active retail investment community exchanges trading ideas, market commentary and portfolios across the world every day,' McDonald added. It's a strategy that sets Moomoo apart from competitors in the free-trading app world, especially with its emphasis on user education and collaboration. Its built-in investor forum is designed to spark real-time discussions, much like a Reddit or X thread—but with verified data and analysis baked in. Security is another major focus. 'We have a comprehensive data privacy policy,' McDonald said. 'As a SEC/FINRA registered broker dealer, we are in full compliance with privacy laws and regulations.' While Moomoo is gamifying finance for mobile-first users, CoinCorner is quietly building an old-school bridge between crypto and traditional money. Founded in 2014, CoinCorner has gone from being a simple Bitcoin exchange to a full-service financial platform. The company now offers e-money accounts, Bitcoin-backed loans, and is rolling out interest and insurance products. 'Since launching CoinCorner in 2014, we have evolved from a simple Bitcoin exchange into a full-service Bitcoin platform focused on real-world use and everyday practicality,' said Molly Spiers, CMO at CoinCorner. Their message is clear: Bitcoin isn't just for trading—it should work like money. 'With over a decade of experience in the industry, we have earned a strong reputation for trust and reliability,' Spiers said. 'It shows we're here for the long haul, with a solid foundation built on regulatory compliance and customer confidence.' One of CoinCorner's biggest leaps has been the launch of e-money accounts—an attempt to integrate Bitcoin with day-to-day finance. 'Each client is issued an account in their own name, complete with a unique account number and sort code,' Spiers said. 'When moving money, they're simply making a transfer between two accounts that they own.' That removes a major friction point: bank delays. 'Our clients experience faster, more reliable transactions and greater control over their funds,' she added. This single change has turned CoinCorner into more than a crypto exchange—it's now a financial platform that feels familiar to people used to traditional banking. CoinCorner is also testing Bitcoin-backed loans with select users—letting holders unlock liquidity without having to sell. 'People appreciate the ability to access liquidity without having to sell their Bitcoin, especially in a market where long-term holding is a core strategy for many,' Spiers said. The idea taps into a growing demand among Bitcoiners who don't want to exit the market but still want cash flow. If these loans roll out widely, CoinCorner could become a go-to platform for Bitcoin-based financial planning. Another area where CoinCorner shines? Human support. 'Whether someone is new to Bitcoin or a more experienced user, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always ready to help,' said Spiers. It's a small detail, but one that matters in a market where trust and usability are often overlooked. The crypto industry is entering a new phase. Gone are the days of hype cycles powered only by token launches and price charts. What's emerging now is infrastructure—tools, services, and platforms that actually work. 'Moomoo and CoinCorner represent two ends of the same spectrum,' said a fintech analyst familiar with both platforms. 'One is onboarding retail investors into deeper financial tools, and the other is helping crypto holders use Bitcoin like a real currency.' And both are doing it without the usual fanfare. These two platforms are quietly rebuilding crypto's reputation first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
