The Fintech Brief | Missed ETA Transact? Liberis Breaks It Down in 5 Minutes

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Editor’s Pick 📌

🎙️ Podcast Spotlight: How Liberis Is Powering Smarter Finance with GenAI

Missed ETA Transact? We’ve got you covered. In this special AI-generated podcast episode, Bobsguide’s Marina sits down with Nima Montazeri, Chief Product Officer at Liberis, to unpack how embedded finance is evolving—and why GenAI is playing a pivotal role.

From document analysis to behavioral underwriting, Nima shares how Liberis is:

• Accelerating credit decisions with unstructured data

• Supporting SMBs in both the US and UK, despite regulatory contrasts

• Powering the “passion economy” with flexible, fair funding

• Enabling simple, scalable integrations through its Create Journey API

🔍 Note: This podcast was created using AI tools based on a text interview. It’s not a recorded audio file, but a conversational-style summary to bring the insights to life.

Expert Opinion ✍️

Riding the Currency Rollercoaster: How Dollar Volatility Is Shaping Embedded Finance & Cross-Border Payments

The recent turbulence in the US dollar is more than a headline—it’s a wake-up call for financial services and payment partners navigating embedded finance. As the dollar’s dominance wavers, transaction costs for cross-border payments are becoming less predictable, directly impacting acquirers, processors, and fintechs building global solutions. What’s often missed is how this volatility is accelerating the adoption of multi-currency platforms and automated risk management. Payment processors are no longer just intermediaries; they’re evolving into currency risk strategists, leveraging real-time FX monitoring and automated hedging to protect both their margins and their clients’ bottom lines.

Fintechs are responding by forging partnerships that centralize banking access and automate reconciliation across dozens of currencies, enabling faster, more accurate settlements even as markets shift. The rise of eCommerce and embedded finance means that supporting a broader range of settlement currencies—beyond just the US dollar—is now a competitive necessity, not a nice-to-have. This shift is also opening new revenue streams as global investors diversify and enterprises seek alternatives like the yuan for settlements.

For banks, ISOs, and fintechs, the lesson is clear: volatility is the new normal, but it’s also an opportunity. Those who invest in advanced connectivity, compliance, and risk tools will not only weather the storm—they’ll redefine what it means to be a global payment partner. The future belongs to those who can turn currency swings into strategic advantage.

Industry Trends & Innovation 💡

REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT

Discover Fined Billions Over Seventeen-Year Credit Card Misclassification Scandal

Discover misclassified millions of consumer credit cards as commercial, resulting in merchants paying over $1 billion in excess interchange fees over 17 years; they now face $1.225 billion in restitution and $250 million in penalties. Capital One’s acquisition of Discover hinges on full compliance and remediation. Merchants, especially in eCommerce, should monitor for refunds.

PAYMENTS INDUSTRY SHAKEUP

Global Payments Acquires Worldpay in $22.7 Billion Payments Industry Landmark Deal

In one of the most significant moves in the payments industry this decade, Global Payments has acquired Worldpay for $22.7 billion, creating a formidable global player with the capacity to process over 94 billion transactions annually across more than 175 countries. This deal not only reshapes the topography of merchant payments, but also sets a new benchmark for scale, reach, and product capability in a sector already undergoing rapid digital transformation.

Crucially, the acquisition comes alongside a strategic divestment: Global Payments has sold off its issuer services division to FIS, allowing it to concentrate fully on its merchant services arm. This is a strong signal to the market—Global is betting on the SMB and merchant space as its growth engine, doubling down on embedded payments, vertical integration, and platform partnerships.

The timing is telling. As embedded finance continues to mature, more B2B platforms, marketplaces, and SaaS providers are baking payments and lending into their core user journeys. With this acquisition, Global is positioning itself as a clear infrastructure partner of choice for those looking to monetise payments at scale—especially in underserved geographies or verticals.

FINTECH INNOVATION

Eight Key Fintech Trends Emerging at FinovateSpring 2025 Conference

Eight clear fintech trends are setting the agenda at FinovateSpring 2025: AI technologies now underpin most solutions, digital transformation extends deep into infrastructure, and embedded finance sees broad adoption—from eCommerce to payroll. These trends matter, as they signal sharper customer focus and rapidly changing operational requirements. If you’re in banking or fintech, staying ahead demands close attention to these shifts.

PAYMENTS TECHNOLOGY

Alacriti Launches Orbipay Payments Hub to Streamline and Automate ACH Transactions

Alacriti’s Orbipay Payments Hub for ACH offers financial institutions automated exception handling, seamless integration with banking systems and real-time analytics, enabling faster, more accurate payments and easier compliance. This platform unifies ACH, wire, and real-time payments, minimising manual effort and operational costs. Essential for banks wanting future-ready efficiency.

LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENT

Daniel Harrison Becomes Phantom’s First Communications Lead After Leaving Coinbase

Daniel Harrison, formerly of Coinbase, has been appointed as Phantom’s inaugural head of communications. This move signals Phantom’s intent to sharpen its public messaging at a time when clear communication is paramount in the crypto sector. Expect more proactive and transparent engagement from Phantom going forward.

FINTECH INNOVATION

Intuit’s AI Powers Fair, Transparent, and Accessible Financial Tools for Small Businesses

Intuit’s GenOS adapts to volatile markets using over 95 petabytes of data, while layered bias checks and human oversight ensure fair and reliable AI-driven financial decisions. Small business users benefit from plain-language, actionable insights without technical jargon.

PRIVATE EQUITY ACQUISITION

Advent International Acquires TBI Bank to Drive Growth Across Southeast Europe

Advent International is acquiring TBI Bank, a fast-growing South-East European challenger, from 4finance Holding. With over 2.4 million customers and a net profit of EUR 50m in 2024, TBI’s strong mobile-led presence appeals to market participants seeking digital-first banking solutions. This move signals Advent’s ongoing commitment to regional financial services expansion, directly impacting both eCommerce partners and consumers.