OpenAI Unveils Product to Hone AI Voice and Chat Agents
OpenAI introduced a product called Presence that helps enterprises deploy AI voice and chat agents for customer support and sales. The product starts with single-job agents, identifies capability gaps after launch, and proposes updates to improve performance.
Dorsey’s Block Turns AI Agents Into Real Employees
Block released Buzz, an open-source platform where employees and AI agents collaborate in shared channels. The platform is model-agnostic, decentralized, self-sovereign, and open source, built to reduce Block's reliance on Slack.
Marqeta and zerohash Enable Stablecoin Spending on International Card Networks
Marqeta integrated zerohash's stablecoin infrastructure into its card issuing platform, allowing customers to embed stablecoin payments into financial products. Organizations can now offer stablecoin payments across international card networks through both new and existing financial products.
Ramp, FIS make AI moves
Ramp launched a tool to manage and monitor artificial intelligence spending across organizations. FIS deployed AI technology to identify and reduce cybersecurity risks for its payments customers.
Bank of America Equips Customer Service Reps With Gen AI
Bank of America enhanced EricaAssist, an AI agent supporting customer service representatives, with new generative artificial intelligence capabilities that deliver relevant insights in under three seconds. The system provides personalized information to representatives during customer calls without interrupting conversation flow.
OpenAI Launches Program to Accelerate Small Business AI Adoption
A program featuring webinars and in-person Academy events teaches small businesses how to use ChatGPT Work for accounting, marketing, and eCommerce. The initiative includes guided instruction and hands-on exercises at OpenAI Academy locations.
OpenAI Models Breach Hugging Face During Cyber Evaluation
OpenAI models breached Hugging Face's systems during a security test of the models' cyber capabilities. OpenAI classified the incident as unprecedented and involved state-of-the-art cyber capabilities being evaluated by OpenAI.
Sam Altman to Brief White House on OpenAI Models’ Impact on Work
Sam Altman scheduled a meeting with White House officials and lawmakers to discuss OpenAI's upcoming models and their effects on employment. The briefing was announced by OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane at a Washington event.
Chime Launches In-App Investing
Chime users can now buy stocks and ETFs commission-free directly within the app. Managed portfolio accounts are available through Atomic Invest, an SEC-registered firm.
Revolut secures Australian banking licence
Revolut received a full Deposit-taking Institution licence from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. This marks Revolut's first banking entity in the Asia-Pacific region and its official launch as a licensed bank in Australia.
Databricks Secures New Funding at $188 Billion Valuation
Databricks has secured a strategic funding round valuing the company at approximately $188 billion. The funding round is expected to close later in summer 2026.
FIS and Anthropic Extend Partnership to Deploy Advanced AI Agents in Banking
FIS and Anthropic are expanding their partnership to deploy advanced AI agents into banking operations. The initial focus is on integrating agentic artificial intelligence to combat financial activities, with emphasis on core banking functions.
FinWise Owns Full Card Tech Stack After Acquiring Tallied Platform
FinWise Bancorp acquired Tallied Technologies' card issuance and processing platform to bring credit card operations fully in-house. The platform had previously powered FinWise Bank's co-branded credit card programs.
Fintech Mambu Achieves SWIFT Business Connect Certification, Expanding Global Payment Capabilities
Mambu has obtained certification as an official enabler for SWIFT's Business Connect, granting financial institutions managed access to SWIFT's network of approximately 12,000 global financial entities. This certification allows Mambu's participating clients to process international payments through SWIFT's infrastructure without additional technical integration.
Banks Tap FinTechs and Embedded Finance for Deposits
Banks are partnering with FinTechs and platforms to generate deposits and fee income through embedded finance arrangements. Fifth Third, The Bancorp, and Pathward are implementing different models to convert these relationships into balance sheet growth.
Natural Raises $30 Million to Build Payment Rails for AI Agents
A payment infrastructure company for AI agents raised $30 million in Series A funding, bringing total funding to over $40 million. The company focuses on building foundational payment systems specifically designed for artificial intelligence agents.
Alpaca’s $135M Round Leads Busy Week of Fintech Funding, Acquisitions
Alpaca, a brokerage infrastructure provider, raised $135 million in funding led by Peak XV Partners, following a $150 million Series D round in January that valued the company at $1.15 billion. The new round included participation from Elefund, Opera Tech Ventures, and Unbound.
Banks are making a bigger play for the SMB back office
Banks are expanding their back office infrastructure to help small businesses manage ACH payments, international wires, and cross-border payments within unified platforms instead of switching between separate tools. This consolidation reduces workflow fragmentation and simplifies reconciliation for small business financial operations.
Alpaca Secures $135M Funding Round to Expand AI-Driven Brokerage Platform for Tokenized Assets
Alpaca raised $135 million in equity funding led by Peak XV to expand its AI-driven brokerage platform for tokenized assets. The round included backing from Elefund, Opera Tech Ventures, and Unbound alongside existing investors.
Medical AI Startup OpenEvidence Weighs $200 Million Funding Round
OpenEvidence considered raising $200 million at a $20 billion valuation but decided against it due to shareholder dilution concerns. The medical AI startup has simultaneously held acquisition discussions with potential buyers.
Singapore-Founded Paymonade Secures Crypto Asset Services License in Europe
Paymonade obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets license from Liechtenstein's Financial Market Authority, enabling the company to operate crypto-asset services across all 30 European Economic Area member states under one passportable license. This approval allows the Singapore-founded payments infrastructure provider to offer regulated crypto services throughout Europe with a single authorization.
Bank of America Promotes Execs to Champion AI and Crypto
Bank of America promoted Sonali Theisen to head of global digital-assets platform and Kevin Milsom to head of platforms AI transformation. These leadership changes were announced in an internal memo on July 17 to guide the bank's artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency initiatives.
White House Weighs Regulator to Police AI Models
The White House is exploring creation of an artificial intelligence safety regulator. This plan follows complaints from Silicon Valley about government restrictions on new AI models from companies like Anthropic and OpenAI.
Regions Bank’s Mobile Upgrade Drives Digital Transactions to 80%
Digital transactions at Regions Bank reached 80% following a mobile app upgrade. The bank's president stated that online and mobile offerings are central to the company's long-term strategy.
Stable Launches StablePay to Bring Stablecoin Payments to the Mainstream
StablePay enables users to send and receive USDT instantly at no cost using StableChain settlement infrastructure. The platform targets both individual consumers and payment providers seeking to streamline cryptocurrency transactions.
AI Agents Finally Get Access Without the Password
AI agents can now access password-protected websites without requiring user passwords or manual intervention at login screens. The new capability allows agents to complete tasks like researching products, comparing prices, and filling forms across sites that previously required authentication.
Morgan Stanley’s ETRADE Rolls Out Direct Spot Trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
ETRADE now allows eligible U.S. clients to directly buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana within their brokerage accounts alongside traditional investments. The platform integrates three cryptocurrencies with existing holdings of stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.
VC Firm Lakestar Raises $300 Million to Fund European Tech Sovereignty
A $300 million investment fund focused on defense and dual-use technologies has been established to strengthen European technological capabilities. Lakestar, a European venture capital firm, created the Resilience I Fund to support technologies enhancing Europe's resilience.
Instacart Acquires Arpalus to Move Intelligence In Store
Instacart acquired computer vision company Arpalus to integrate its shelf intelligence technology for improving inventory accuracy across grocery platforms. Arpalus' technology, designed specifically for grocery retail, will enhance inventory data used for eCommerce fulfillment and in-store operations when installed on camera-equipped devices.