FinTech Weekly - Innovation Under Scrutiny - Issue #447

In 2023, "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services have seen a surge in popularity, with spending hitting $64.9 billion. Firms like Affirm and PayPal offer consumers installment-based purchases. Yahoo Finance examines this trend, highlighting the benefits and risks for consumers and retailers.

Glow Beta, a solar infrastructure protocol leveraging Ethereum's smart contract platform, aims to revolutionize energy ownership and tackle climate change. By creating a network connecting solar energy producers and consumers, Glow Beta addresses barriers like high costs and grid instability, promoting the shift to renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

India's central bank has tightened regulations on unsecured consumer loans, impacting fintech lenders like Paytm. The Reserve Bank of India's move to increase the risk weight for personal loans aims to curb rising consumer debt and delinquencies. This has led to a significant drop in Paytm's shares and a strategic shift in its lending practices. The new regulations pose challenges for smaller fintech firms, with some, like Zestmoney, facing closure. The stricter landscape may benefit more risk-conscious and profitable fintech companies.

Bloc, an emerging African fintech startup, has unveiled its new business banking platform in Lagos, Nigeria, designed for modern, tech-savvy businesses. This launch signifies a major step in Bloc's mission to empower African enterprises, enhancing their global market presence and demonstrating the growing impact of fintech in Africa.

Huawei and Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society have partnered to propel Thailand into a regional AI development hub. This collaboration, announced at the Huawei Cloud AI Summit 2023 in Bangkok, focuses on cloud and AI digital ecosystems, aligning with Thailand's cloud-first strategies for future growth. The partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation, talent development, and economic sustainability, enhancing overall well-being in Thailand, as per MDES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong. Huawei's involvement is set to lay a digital foundation and establish AI infrastructure for government and business applications.

Visa is expanding its FinTech Fast Track program by integrating its Visa Direct platform, allowing members to access real-time money movement capabilities. Vanessa Colella, Visa's SVP and Global Head of Innovation and Digital Partnerships, emphasizes the program's commitment to fostering fintech growth. The expansion enables fintechs to facilitate transfers to cards, bank accounts, and wallets globally. Visa Direct supports a range of payment types and offers extensive reach, signaling a significant step in advancing real-time payments across various sectors.

Saudi Arabia has introduced 'Makken,' a new fintech program, to foster financial innovation in the Kingdom. Launched by Saudi Central Bank Governor Ayman Al-Sayari and Capital Market Authority Chairman Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, Makken is part of the Financial Sector Development Program. It aims to empower 150 emerging fintech companies over three years, contributing significantly to the sector's growth. Al-Sayari noted the Kingdom's rapid fintech expansion, with a 40% growth in companies from 2022 to 2023, underscoring a commitment to digitization and innovation in finance.v