Payments Daily · Thursday, October 15, 2026Daily
PAY.NEWS
Payward Plans to Acquire Saldo Bank to Enter EU Banking Business
Kraken parent company Payward has signed an agreement to acquire the Finnish holding company that owns Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank; if approved by regulators and completed in 2027, Payward will be able to offer deposits, loans, and SEPA euro payments in five markets. Ant International has also obtained the UAE central bank’s RPSCS and SVF licenses.
Stablecoins & On-chain
Stablecoin Startups Including Rain and MassPay Advance Payment Applications
Stablecoin startups such as Rain and MassPay are integrating digital assets into everyday payments, advancing fund transfers and collections by connecting to traditional payment rails, real-time payment systems, and mobile wallets. Rain launched a digital wallet for stablecoin balances this week, supported by its card-issuing capabilities, and plans to offer custodial wallets by year-end; MassPay serves approximately 300 companies and processes tens of billions of dollars annually, around 10% of which is completed in stablecoins and about half of which consists of cross-border payments.
Regulation & Compliance
Kraken Parent Company Payward Plans to Acquire Saldo Bank to Obtain an EU Banking License
Kraken parent company Payward has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Saldo Finance Oy, the Finnish holding company that owns Lithuania-licensed Saldo Bank. If approved by regulators and completed in 2027, the transaction would enable Payward to offer deposits, loans, and SEPA euro payments in five markets, and provide fintech companies with card issuance, SEPA payments, and embedded lending tools.
Fintech NewsAnt International Obtains UAE Central Bank RPSCS and SVF Licenses
Ant International has obtained the Retail Payment Services and Card Schemes Category II (RPSCS) license and the Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license issued by the UAE central bank.
CFPBFirst partyCFPB Launches Investigation into Large Banks’ Restrictions on Financial Services
The CFPB announced the launch of a new phase of work to investigate whether large banks restricted financial services based on customers’ political or religious beliefs and lawful business activities. The action targets the nine large national banks mentioned in an OCC report and involves industries including firearms, oil and gas, and tobacco; it will review compliance with the ECOA, FCRA, and UDAAP. The CFPB also said it will use consumer complaints, regulatory data, and enforcement data to launch investigations and take action where necessary.
PYMNTSU.S. Department of Justice Reportedly Investigates Payment Company Euro Exchange and Affiliated Businesses
The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly investigating businesses surrounding payment company Euro Exchange and has requested information from the administrator responsible for its liquidation, issuing a subpoena to its affiliate Banex International Bank. Previously, U.K. authorities seized Euro Exchange in June over possible AML violations, after which the FCA investigated its possible involvement in unlawful activities.
OCC Reportedly Says Nine Banks Canceled Customers’ Financial Services over Political or Religious Positions
The OCC released a 47-page follow-up report alleging that the policies or practices of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, PNC, Capital One, TD, and BMO between 2020 and 2025 may have affected the cancellation of banking services based on customers’ political or religious leanings.
CoinDeskPhilippines’ Largest Crypto Exchange Coins.ph Reportedly Faces Central Bank Regulatory Action
Two people familiar with the matter said that the Philippine central bank is taking regulatory action against crypto exchange Coins.ph, with the alleged violations involving services provided to overseas gambling platforms and potentially resulting in the revocation of its license in serious cases. Earlier this month, the Philippine central bank reportedly restricted deposits to the exchange through its primary wallet company, DCPay Philippines, and several compliance heads also left the company this year. Coins.ph has more than 18 million customers and controls approximately 75%-80% of the Philippine peso-to-stablecoin liquidity.
CoinDeskDutch Central Bank Grants Qivalis an Electronic Money Institution License
The Dutch central bank has granted Qivalis, backed by 37 European banks, an electronic money institution license, bringing it closer to issuing euro-denominated electronic money tokens. Qivalis still needs to publish a white paper and meet other MiCA requirements, and plans to distribute the tokens through banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and payment service providers over the coming months. Under MiCA, electronic money token holders may redeem them at par value at any time, and the tokens may not pay interest.
Companies & Markets
Polygon Labs Completes Acquisition of Coinme; Approximately 6,000 Crypto ATMs to Be Gradually Shut Down
Polygon Labs has completed its acquisition of Coinme, obtaining money transmission licenses in 37 states, 11 exemptions, and FinCEN MSB registration, expanding its regulated payments coverage to 48 U.S. states. These credentials will be integrated into the Open Money Stack, a platform that consolidates fiat on- and off-ramps, wallets, cross-chain routing, and settlement into a single integration. Businesses can use stablecoins to hold or settle funds and pay recipients in their local currency.