Tag: ipo

In finance & crypto, today’s misstep might just be tomorrow’s masterstroke

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The payments world is buzzing with fresh developments this week, especially on the BNPL front.

Let’s talk about two payment-space scenarios where, based on my observations, the game has changed hands:

• First, we have the rise of banks shaking hands with BNPL providers to supercharge their offerings — something that just a few years ago would have had most banks and regulators clutching their pearls.
• Second, let’s check in on Block, which was once slammed by analysts for its Bitcoin obsession, but now it’s standing tall with all its chips in play.

Let’s start with the BNPL scene.

BNPL + Banks: The new power couple?

Banks are finally getting cozy with BNPL. Who knew? For a while, BNPL was that rebellious teen that no one quite understood, especially regulators and financial institutions. But now, well, let’s just say it’s making some unexpected alliances.

Affirm Card opens doors for banks: Affirm is bringing its Affirm Card, which offers both credit and debit features with pay-over-time, to third-party issuers. This means banks can now jump on the BNPL bandwagon with the Affirm Card, which first launched in 2021. 

Through a partnership with FIS, Affirm is giving banks the chance to offer this pay-over-time service to their customers without asking them to carry around an extra card. Any bank that partners with FIS can now provide its version of the Affirm Card; no new plastic is required. So, in a way, it’s BNPL, but with a side of bank credibility. How’s that for a plot twist?

Klarna is the chosen one for JPM’s B2B BNPL offering: J.P. Morgan Chase is making a major move in the payments space by teaming up with Swedish BNPL provider Klarna to bring BNPL options to its business customers.

Through this partnership, businesses using J.P. Morgan Chase’s payments commerce platform will now have access to a BNPL service, giving them the flexibility to break payments over time. The integration is set to launch later this year.

Block Check: Is Dorsey’s vision finally paying off?

Switching gears to Block — in 2022, I did a story on Block and asked a question that seemed almost heretical at the time: Should Jack Dorsey’s Block return to its roots? Analysts thought Jack Dorsey was off his rocker for diving headfirst into Bitcoin a few years ago. They believed that he was betting the farm on a volatile digital currency with questionable prospects.

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FIs are unsure whether to swipe right or left on the whole relationship

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As I sifted through the recent Trump and financial world shake-ups for this week’s 10Q installment (trust me, there were plenty), I finally zeroed in on today’s story — how crypto is taking on a new life under the president’s watch and what that could mean for Wall Street banks.

In a move that has both crypto enthusiasts and traditional bankers adjusting their spectacles, Trump has gone full steam ahead into the world of crypto. From launching his own DeFi platform, Liberty Financial, to embracing meme coins and reshuffling government positions to favor digital assets, Trump’s dive into crypto is a rollercoaster ride, packed with twists, turns, and high stakes.

For him, these initiatives aim to propel the United States to the forefront of cryptocurrency. 

Some of his pivotal actions in this direction include:

~ From ‘I’m not a fan’ to ‘Let’s make crypto great again’: Rewind to 2019, and Trump was calling Bitcoin a “scam” and tweeting that crypto was “based on thin air.” He’s now one of the loudest voices in crypto, a position solidified by the launch of his World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

WLFI offers lending, borrowing, and yield farming opportunities in a way that, according to Trump, “keeps financial power in the hands of the people, not the globalists.”

The platform operates with a strong focus on stablecoins, specifically those pegged to the US dollar, in an effort to solidify the dollar’s role in global digital transactions. Within weeks of launch, WLFI transferred $307 million in crypto assets to Coinbase Prime, raising eyebrows in both crypto and traditional banking circles.

~ Meme coins FTW? If WLFI was Trump’s serious play into DeFi, his next move was pure spectacle: embracing TrumpCoin (not officially affiliated with him, but heavily inspired). The meme coin skyrocketed overnight after he gave it a nod during a rally, stating, “I hear there’s a Trump coin. Maybe it’s the best coin. People love it.”

While most politicians stay far away from meme coins, Trump has leaned in, fueling speculation that he may formally endorse a cryptocurrency of his own. And in the world of meme coins, a simple tweet or soundbite can send prices soaring — or crashing.

~ Crypto-friendly faces in high places: Trump’s been appointing pro-crypto figures to key government positions.

David Sacks, a crypto advocate, was appointed to lead the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) sparking hopes of a more crypto-friendly policy shift that could ease digital asset integration for financial institutions.

Sacks took to Capitol Hill this week to unveil the administration’s vision for cryptocurrency regulation. The Senate Banking, Senate Agriculture, House Agriculture, and House Financial Services Committees are joining forces to create a bicameral crypto committee. Their main focus is to create a stablecoin bill and set up a federal regulatory framework for digital assets.

The Federal Reserve and FDIC are also considering pro-crypto policy shifts, encouraging deeper institutional adoption. Travis Hill, the acting FDIC chairman appointed by Trump, noted at the Senate Banking Committee this week that the FDIC is reevaluating its stance on crypto regulation to provide a clear path for FIs. The regulator is also revisiting its stance on insuring crypto-related deposits. If crypto firms get FDIC backing, it could make digital assets more palatable to mainstream banks and investors. 

Hill also pointed out that the agency had previously made it harder for banks to engage with crypto, referencing past communications that discouraged such involvement.

Cynthia Lummis, a longtime Bitcoin supporter, was also tapped by Trump for the position of Treasury Secretary. 

Big Banks: Panic, Adapt, or HODL (Hold On For Dear Life)?

Earlier, banks were happy with Trump’s pro-business and deregulation policies. But now, with the new president reshuffling the financial deck and rolling out the red carpet for crypto, banks are likely stuck in a corporate identity crisis. Should they dive headfirst into the DeFi space or stick to the tried-and-true methods that have kept them at the top?

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Banks, Bots, and Big Ideas; but what’s the deeper insight we’re missing?

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Every January, the world’s finance players head to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum (WEF). This year was no exception, running from January 20 to 24 under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.

AI was last year’s favorite talking point, popping up in nearly every session. This year it was practically the event’s co-host, sharing the spotlight with American politics — the virtual appearance of the newly elected US President, and his polarizing comments about EU regulations, which didn’t exactly win him any fans.

AI: The front and center

At WEF 2025, AI wasn’t just a topic — it was the topic. From business to governance, nearly every session revolved around AI’s impact from different angles. Key discussions included:

• Can National Security Keep Up with AI? (The risks and rewards of AI in defense)
• Who Benefits from Augmentation? (A deep dive into AI-human collaboration)
• Industries in the Intelligent Age (Which sectors are evolving — or disappearing?)
• Media Briefing: Unlocking the North Star for AI Adoption, Scaling, and Global Impact (Finding AI’s true potential)
• State of Play: AI Governance (Balancing innovation and regulation)
• The Dawn of Artificial General Intelligence? (How close are we, really?)
• AI: Lifting All Boats (Can AI drive growth for everyone?)
• Reskilling for the Intelligent Age (Preparing the workforce for what’s next)

Figuring out whether AI is a threat, a tool, or a team player

AI’s influence in banking and financial services has been a hot-button issue for a few years now, and it’s only getting more interesting. Financial leaders at WEF boiled it down to 3 key takes on AI’s role in banking:

1. AI as the job cutter: AI could shake up the job market, with potential job losses in banking as tasks become automated

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From startups to stock markets, this new leader is ready to tackle the challenge head-on

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The start of a new year is often a time for goal-setting and implementing organizational changes. Wise Platform embraced this spirit by appointing Lauren Langbridge as its new Commercial Director for North America.

In this role, Lauren will lead the expansion of Wise Platform’s strategic partnerships integrating into financial services firms, growth initiatives, and commercial strategies across the region.

Before joining Wise Platform, Lauren worked at Currencycloud, a private UK-based firm that offers a fully cloud-based platform for B2B cross-border payments. She helped the company grow from a startup into a global player in cross-border payments. Visa acquired Currencycloud in 2021 for $963 million (£700 million).

I had the opportunity to sit down with Lauren to learn about her career path, her vision for Wise working with banks, and how she’s managing the transition from a private firm to a leadership role in a public company operating extensively across North America.

How does managing strategies in a public company differ from your experience in a private firm?

Lauren Langbridge: Having transitioned from a VC-backed private firm to a publicly traded company, I’ve experienced firsthand the differences and opportunities in managing sales and revenue strategies. One significant shift is the level of scrutiny and accountability. At a public company, there is a broader range of stakeholders — investors, analysts, and even employees — who are closely watching performance.

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The 3’D’ Playbook: Dollars, Deals, and Dreams

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The confetti from New Year’s celebrations has barely settled, but the banking sector is already throwing its own party. This week’s Q4 2024 earnings results have been nothing short of a financial fireworks show, with big banks flexing their muscle in style.

Leading the charge was J.P. Morgan, reminding everyone why it’s the heavyweight champion of US banking. Profits skyrocketed 50% to $14 billion for the quarter. Revenue? Up 10% to $43.74 billion, contributed by a net interest income of $23.47 billion that exceeded analyst expectations. J.P. Morgan isn’t just making money — it’s making history.

Citi brought home a solid $2.86 billion in net income for the final 2024 quarter. Its investment banking arm stole the spotlight, with revenue rising 35% YoY to hit $925 million.

The numbers painted an equally lively picture over at Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley.

Goldman’s profit roughly doubled from a year earlier to $4.11 billion. Revenue soared 23% to $13.87 billion, driven by strong gains in equities and fixed-income trading, along with improved investment banking results. Wells Fargo posted a 47% surge in net income, reaching $5.1 billion, up from $3.45 billion in the same quarter last year, with revenue hitting $20.4 billion. Bank of America delivered $6.67 billion in net income on $25.35 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley more than doubled its quarterly profit to $3.71 billion, fueled by a standout performance in its equities trading division, which saw revenue skyrocket 51% to $3.3 billion.

The Sweet Spot

Even before the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, banks were riding a wave of optimism, and here’s why:

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Markets are hitting refresh for the new year!

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Wishing you a fantastic start to the New Year and an amazing journey ahead!

Let me ask the question we all know the answer to: “New Year, New Me?” Pfft, we’ve all overused that resolution like a credit card with no limit. The financial services industry has its fair share of those shiny pledges.

But here’s something intriguing to kick off my first 10Q Newsletter of 2025: this year didn’t just start on a positive note — the industry’s optimism actually started brewing before the ball dropped. That’s a refreshing change from the gloom and doom of recent years. So, let’s dive into how and why the financial world is stepping into 2025 with a little extra spring.

On a broader, behind-the-scenes level, December — when holiday vibes trump work emails — turned into a surprise whirlwind for us. Instead of the usual festive lull, we experienced an inbox overload with a flurry of company news, pitches, and developments. Clearly, this 2024 December decided to break tradition.

On the external front, I’m noticing a few key trends emerging in the markets and public firms. The IPO scene for 2025 is gearing up for a surge, AI looks primed for yet another standout year, and Web3 is showing signs of a triumphant return (looks like AI’s got some competition in the ring this year).

Let’s take a moment to see what’s taking shape in each of these areas.

The 2025 IPO landscape

Many big names are gearing up to make their market debut, including:

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Let’s hit the 2024 highlights!

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2025 is here, and with it comes the excitement of fresh starts and new horizons. But before sprinting into the future, let’s take a thoughtful pause to reflect on last year’s journey.

Join me as we explore the highlight stories from the 10Q universe and celebrate the close of 2024!

The Case for Connected Experiences: U.S. Bank’s vision for SMB growth

Back in February 2024, I spoke with Shruti Patel, the Chief Product Officer for the Business Banking Segment at U.S. Bank. We talked about all things SMBs — what’s working, what’s not, and how financial institutions can step up their game.

One thing that really gets me is the sheer tenacity of small business owners. Balancing responsibilities and confronting obstacles daily, they persevere with unwavering hope for better financial opportunities. Where does that confidence come from?

According to Shruti, SMB owners are resilient, adaptable, and always ready to tackle whatever comes their way. They chalk it up to their work ethic, leadership skills, and adaptability. And they’re pretty good at managing stress too.

In a U.S. Bank survey, small business owners revealed some of their secret stress-busting hacks:

• Reminding themselves why they started their business (aka the “this is my dream” mantra)
• Making work fun or meaningful (because why not?)
• Setting boundaries (read: not answering emails at midnight)
• Regularly tweaking their business strategies (change is good)
• Hiring help to lighten the load (delegation can be a superpower)

But here’s the rub: Small business owners wear all the hats — CEO, accountant, HR, janitor — and their biggest pain point is a lack of time. Enter digital solutions, the capes SMBs need to wear to save the day, according to Shruti. She shared that 82% of small business owners believe investing in digital tools could reduce their stress, and 42% say it would free up time for more strategic work.

Historically, banks have given their SMB customers more and more money movement solutions for accepting payments and for making payments (POS, ACH, Zelle, Wires, RTP, BillPay in banking app). The real puzzle isn’t just about building the tech — it’s about translating it into SMB-speak. For many small business owners, payment rails might as well be train tracks to nowhere. They’re burning $200 a month on a jumble of tools and sacrificing up to 40 hours playing admin instead of entrepreneur, explained Shruti.

Shruti’s take? It’s time for financial institutions to step up and deliver smoother digital tools that bring everything together in one place. This could be a central dashboard that connects all the dots — front office, back office, and everything in between — combined with other measures.

Partnerships: The Good, the Bad, and the “What were we thinking?”

Last year, partnerships have been front and center — some thriving, others combusting (hint: Apple-Goldman). With collaboration such a hot topic, I reached out to industry pros to get their take on how to prevent cracks in collaborations.

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