This week’s developments highlight how fintech is evolving across multiple fronts. Mastercard is expanding into stablecoin infrastructure through a $1.8 billion acquisition. GCash is embedding AI directly into its e-wallet experience. Alkami is seeing insider buying as its digital banking platform continues to grow. PayJoy is being recognized for scaling credit access across emerging markets. And Kalshi is attracting new capital as it builds out its prediction market platform.
Together, these updates reflect continued movement across payments, lending, digital banking, and new financial models.
1) Insiders Move Back Into Alkami as Digital Banking Growth Holds
Alkami Technology is seeing renewed confidence from insiders after a sharp decline in its share price over the past year. General Atlantic, the company’s largest institutional shareholder, purchased around $60 million in shares in March, with additional buying from a company director.
The activity comes as Alkami continues to grow its core digital banking platform business. Annual recurring revenue reached $480 million in 2025, up 35% year over year, while churn remained below 1%, reflecting strong retention among banks and credit unions using its software.
The company remains unprofitable, reporting a $48 million net loss for the year, but its use of predictive AI and data analytics to anticipate customer needs continues to position it as a key player in digital banking infrastructure.
2) Mastercard to Acquire Stablecoin Infrastructure Firm BVNK in $1.8 Billion Deal
Mastercard has announced a definitive agreement to acquire stablecoin start-up BVNK in a deal valued at up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval.
BVNK is a UK-based payments infrastructure provider that enables enterprises to integrate stablecoins and blockchain rails into existing financial operations. The company operates in more than 130 countries and holds regulatory approvals including access to the SEPA payments scheme and an EU Crypto-Asset Service Provider licence.
Mastercard said the acquisition will support a digital asset- and chain-agnostic approach, allowing customers to access different payment solutions without being tied to a single ecosystem, as it expands its strategy in stablecoin and on-chain payments.
3) PayJoy Named Consumer BNPL Platform of the Year for Expanding Credit Access
PayJoy has been named “Consumer BNPL Platform of the Year” at the 10th annual FinTech Breakthrough Awards, which received more than 4,500 nominations globally. The recognition highlights the company’s work in expanding credit access to underserved consumers across emerging markets.
The company operates in nine countries, including Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and the Philippines, offering point-of-sale financing and card products designed for first-time borrowers. Its technology uses machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI to support responsible lending.
PayJoy has financed more than $3.5 billion in loans to over 19 million people as it continues to scale credit access in regions where traditional financial infrastructure remains limited.
4) GCash Launches AI Financial Coach Inside E-Wallet
GCash has introduced an artificial intelligence–powered financial coach embedded directly within its e-wallet, marking the first such feature of its kind in the Philippines. The tool, called Pera Coach, was developed with support from Microsoft and is designed to deliver personalized financial guidance to users.
Pera Coach responds to prompts related to financial goals, budgeting, and risk preferences, providing tailored recommendations in English and multiple local languages. The feature is integrated within the GCash app, allowing users to access financial education alongside existing services such as savings and investments.
The launch comes as financial literacy remains limited across the country, with a central bank survey showing that only 2% of Filipino adults could correctly answer basic financial literacy questions.
5) Kalshi Reaches $22 Billion Valuation Following $1 Billion Raise
Kalshi has reportedly raised around $1 billion in new funding, bringing its valuation to $22 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The round was led by Coatue Management.
The company operates a prediction market platform where users can trade on the outcomes of real-world events, including sports and elections. Founded in 2018, Kalshi has positioned prediction markets as a tradable asset class.
The funding is expected to support customer growth, expand brokerage integrations, and broaden its product offerings as the platform continues to scale.
