Cryptocurrency donations are already seamlessly integrated into all JustGiving fundraising pages in the U.K., and this feature is now extended to U.S. fundraising pages that are DAF-enabled to receive funds through The Blackbaud Giving Fund. This will allow hundreds of thousands of U.S. charities to receive cryptocurrency as a giving method alongside more traditional methods.

“In recent years, there has been a surge in the use of cryptocurrencies, and we’re continuing to innovate for our nonprofit customers to make sure they have access to the latest in payments technology and accelerated giving,” said Jerry Needel, chief of product innovation, Blackbaud. “By making cryptocurrency donation seamless, we’re enabling a way for cryptocurrency users to make tax-free donations and also opening up more donation opportunities for nonprofits looking to raise funds for their important causes.”

To facilitate this new donation method, Blackbaud has partnered with The Giving Block, a leading solution for cryptocurrency donations.

“580 million people now use cryptocurrency around the world, and the market is worth over $3 trillion,” said Alex Wilson, co-founder of The Giving Block. “Charities need to tap into this new donor demographic. Our goal is to make accepting cryptocurrency donations just as easy as taking any other online donations, and that’s exactly what this partnership is doing.”

In 2024 alone, it is estimated that over $1 billion in cryptocurrency was donated to nonprofits. Cryptocurrencies’ tax advantages—such as capital gains tax relief—provide donors with a compelling reason to contribute, making it essential for charities to enable this form of giving.

Donors can now give in over 60 different forms of cryptocurrency when making a donation to a U.S. or U.K. charity on the JustGiving platform. This includes all major cryptocurrency coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether, as well as some of the most popular memecoins including Doge, Dogelon and Shiba. Cryptocurrency funds raised will be automatically and instantly converted to U.S. dollars before they are distributed, eliminating the need for the charity to worry about price volatility. DAF-enabled charities on the platform will receive the funds through The Blackbaud Giving Fund.

“We are very excited to be able to receive donations in cryptocurrency, which is an advantageous funding source for nonprofits,” said Matt Nash, executive director, The Blackbaud Giving Fund. “Donors can receive tax benefits from donating an appreciated asset, while nonprofits, with the instant conversion to cash, can receive funds that can be used to support anything from daily operating expenses to long term investment. We’re thrilled that this partnership between Blackbaud, The Blackbaud Giving Fund and The Giving Block is creating a seamless cryptocurrency donation experience.”

JustGiving has enabled over $9 billion to be raised for thousands of charities and good causes since it launched in 2000. Facilitating cryptocurrency donations is the latest innovation for JustGiving, following a move to integrate AI into the fundraising page creation process last year, which enables fundraisers to use the technology to help write their fundraising stories and appeals.

Nonprofits looking to set up fundraising campaigns on JustGiving can find more information here. Individuals looking to support charities can search for causes, donate or set up fundraising pages here.

The post Blackbaud Enables Cryptocurrency Donations for U.S. Nonprofits Through Its JustGiving Platform appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

By bringing its comprehensive range of crypto products, including staking, savings plans, and crypto indices, to the UK, Bitpanda is making a bold statement: it is not just expanding into a new market, but setting a new standard for secure, compliant, and user-friendly crypto investing in Britain.

Eric Demuth, CEO and Co-Founder of Bitpanda, commented: “Being Europe’s leading crypto platform means being in the UK—there was no question about it. This was the last missing piece to truly serve all Europeans. Now, our focus is clear: deliver a product that meets the needs of UK investors. We’re ready to welcome British investors and take Bitpanda to the next level.”

To support its expansion, Bitpanda plans to reopen a permanent office in the UK and grow the team to develop products tailored to the UK market.

Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Deputy CEO at Bitpanda, added: “The UK is one of the world’s most significant financial hubs, home to some of the most innovative companies and a thriving cryptoasset economy – the UK is the perfect market for Bitpanda, and we are the perfect company for the UK. British investors demand a platform that is safe, secure, and built for the future – Bitpanda is exactly that. Our entry into the UK marks just the beginning of what we plan to bring to this market.”

Bitpanda’s FCA approval follows a decade of proactive regulatory efforts. The company has consistently led the way in Europe, holding several licences including a MiCAR licence from the German regulator BaFin, PSD2 E-money licence, a MiFID II licence, and registrations as a VASP across multiple markets. Bitpanda’s regulatory-first approach has made it one of the world’s most trusted platforms for secure and compliant cryptoasset investing.

Beyond its direct-to-consumer offering, Bitpanda also provides infrastructure solutions through Bitpanda Technology Solutions (BTS), one of the most scalable digital asset platforms globally. Already trusted by major European banks such as LBBW, RLB, and N26, BTS will now be available for UK banks looking to integrate regulated cryptoasset solutions. This allows financial institutions to offer seamless trading, investment, and custody services powered by Bitpanda’s technology. The platform enables FinTechs, traditional banks, and online platforms to offer regulated trading, investment, and custody services for Bitpanda’s full range of digital assets.

The post Bitpanda Announces UK Expansion Following FCA Approval appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

The Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card will provide users with access to a suite of innovative financial services through the Fold ecosystem. Cardholders can trade bitcoin with zero fees, enjoy insured bitcoin custody, access FDIC-insured transactional accounts, and take advantage of exclusive bonus offers from top merchants.

Fold’s debit card products have already made a significant impact on growing consumer savings via bitcoin, with over 600,000 users and more than $2.5 billion in transactions on its platform.

“Fold has already empowered hundreds of thousands of users to incorporate bitcoin into their daily lives. With this credit card, we aim to dethrone miles as the go-to credit card reward,” said Will Reeves, CEO of Fold. “If the top miles cards can process 1% of US GDP, we’re confident the Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card can reach the same heights. We’re building the hub of personal finance, powered by bitcoin, to ensure everyone has the tools to earn, save, and grow their wealth with bitcoin every day.”

Fold members will earn 1.5% unlimited bitcoin rewards and up to a $100 bonus, while Fold+ members will enjoy exclusive perks, including 2% unlimited rewards in bitcoin, up to $250 in bonuses, and a premium metal card that reflects their elevated status.

To date, Fold has distributed nearly $75 million in bitcoin rewards to its debit card users—rewards that would have amounted to just over $20 million in cash. This track record highlights the potential of bitcoin as a superior savings asset, and the Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card aims to accelerate this momentum.

As Fold prepares to list on the NASDAQ as the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, it is also building a top 25 bitcoin treasury among public companies, with over 1,000 bitcoin in reserves. This initiative aligns with Fold’s mission to make bitcoin the cornerstone of personal savings for millions of Americans.

Consumers can sign up today to join the waitlist and gain early access to apply.* Fold is reshaping the future of rewards, ensuring that every purchase contributes to a brighter financial future powered by bitcoin.

For more information, visit here.

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GHO’s expansion to Base builds on the GHO Cross-Chain Architecture adopted by Aave Governance. This architecture utilizes Chainlink CCIP, the standard for secure cross-chain interoperability, and the Cross-Chain Token (CCT) standard to enable GHO interoperability across supported networks: Ethereum, Arbitrum, and Base, giving Aave Governance granular control over cross-chain activity, including features like configurable rate limits, programmable token transfers, and an independent risk management network that monitors transaction flows.

“The launch of GHO on Base marks a pivotal moment, not just for GHO, but for the entire DeFi ecosystem,” said Aave Labs Founder Stani Kulechov. “By leveraging Base’s vibrant community, low fees, and developer-friendly environment, and with Chainlink CCIP’s unmatched cross-chain security, GHO enables new decentralized stablecoin applications, unlocking their potential for broader use and setting the stage for a new era of innovation.”

“We’re thrilled to see GHO available on Base,” said Tom Vieira, Head of Product for Base. “Stablecoins like GHO offer clear benefits over traditional financial instruments. With Base, stablecoin transactions can cost less than a cent and settle at the speed of the internet. In an increasingly global world, moving money in seconds, rather than days, will shape the future of finance.”

“As one of our closest partners, we’re very excited to see Aave’s GHO stablecoin launch on Base and for the benefits of the innovative GHO stablecoin to be brought to a new community of hundreds of thousands of DeFi users,” said Chief Business Officer of Chainlink Labs Johann Eid. “Powered by Chainlink CCIP and the CCT standard, GHO on Base marks a significant milestone on the journey towards a more interconnected and accessible DeFi ecosystem.”

Key components of GHO on Base include:

• Initial Caps: The Supply Cap is set at: 2.5M; and the Borrow Cap at 2.25M. 
• Smart Contracts: Aave Labs developed and implemented through governance the necessary smart contracts, including Chainlink CCIP for cross-chain interoperability and integration with Aave V3. The proposal payload is supported by smart contract tests on each network and a code review by Certora, an Aave DAO service provider.
• Risk Parameters: Risk and finance service providers Chaos Labs and Llama Risk established risk parameters tailored to Base, with an initial $25 million bridge cap.
• Liquidity: ALC developed a plan to bootstrap initial GHO liquidity, potentially through incentives and partnerships.

Ecosystem Collaboration: ACI, another Aave service provider, coordinated with teams deployed on Base for support, leveraging existing Base and Optimism incentives.

The post Aave’s GHO Stablecoin Now Live on Base, Expanding Access and Use Cases appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

This collaboration marks the first time that Ripple’s payments solution has been made available in Portugal, expanding the digital asset leader’s European footprint while strengthening the Portugal-Brazil payments corridor. By leveraging Ripple’s payments solution, Unicâmbio’s corporate customers will be able to move funds and settle payments in a matter of minutes – reducing the time and friction to make moving value dramatically more efficient.

“Our partnership with Unicâmbio is a significant milestone in Ripple’s European expansion. Portugal has developed a thriving crypto ecosystem so we are delighted to open up our payments solution to partners there,” said Cassie Craddock, Managing Director, UK & Europe, at Ripple. “By connecting our payment networks in Portugal and Brazil we are facilitating faster, more cost-effective cross-border payments, while strengthening the economic bridge between these two major markets. Ripple has over a decade of experience of tokenising real-world assets, starting with bringing fiat currencies onchain to seamlessly send money across borders. As the global cross-border payments market continues to expand, more institutions like Unicâmbio are leaning in to benefit from the inherent benefits of blockchain technology.”

“Portugal and Brazil share deep economic and cultural ties, with significant money flows between the two countries,” said Adriana Jerónimo, Executive Board Member at Unicâmbio. “By leveraging blockchain technology we’re transforming money movement between the two nations. Ripple’s crypto-enabled payments solution enables near-instant settlement and drastically reduces costs compared to traditional payments channels, delivering real value to our customers.”

The partnership builds upon Ripple’s established presence in Brazil with leading customers like Travelex Bank, which has been a Ripple partner since 2022, and Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, which joined Ripple’s network late last year.

Thanks to its simple, secure, compliant digital asset infrastructure, Ripple is well positioned to provide the core services that financial institutions need to tokenize, store, exchange and move digital assets. Ripple Payments has near-global coverage with 90+ payout markets representing more than 90% coverage of the daily FX markets, processing more than $70 billion in volume. Ripple has over a decade of experience in the digital asset space and holds 60+ regulatory licenses and registrations in various jurisdictions.

The post Ripple Brings Crypto-Enabled Cross-Border Payments to Portugal in Partnership With Unicâmbio appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

The event brought together leaders and representatives from Papua New Guinea and Japan, including Elizabeth Genia, Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea; Hisanobu Mochizuki, Japanese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea; officials from the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat; and the Japanese fintech corporation Soramitsu. The agenda included opening remarks, technical presentations on the Digital Kina system, and discussions about its potential impact on financial inclusion in Papua New Guinea.

“The rationale for the Proof-of-Concept study stems from the rapid advancements in digital financial technologies globally, which have opened up opportunities to enhance payment systems and improve financial inclusion. Many Central Banks around the world are exploring digital currencies to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve”, said Governor Elizabeth Genia during her remarks at the ceremony.

Event highlights:

• George Awap, Assistant Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea, introduced the project and its significance to financial development.
• Hisanobu Mochizuki, Japanese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea; Nobuhisa Nishigata, Counsellor of the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan; and Hideaki Matsuoka, Chief Representative of the Papua New Guinea Office of the Japan International Corporation Agency, shared their perspectives on the collaboration as representatives of the Japanese government.
• Dr. Makoto Takemiya, Group CEO of Soramitsu, and Takayuki Himeno, Mitsubishi Research Institute, presented the technological framework of the Digital Kina system, followed by a Q&A session with attendees.
• George Awap, Hideaki Matsuoka, Nobuhisa Nishigata, Elizabeth Genia, Hisanobu Mochizuki, Makoto Takemiya, Takayuki Himeno, and Taketoshi Mori pose for a commemorative photo after the ceremony.

The Digital Kina PoC leverages Soramitsu’s cutting-edge technology, which is used in the SORA v3 Hub Chain, a global platform powered by the open-source Hyperledger Iroha 2 blockchain. This breakthrough initiative demonstrates how blockchain can address Papua New Guinea’s most urgent financial challenges, including limited banking access, security vulnerabilities, and underdeveloped financial infrastructure.

“Soramitsu is dedicated to modernizing and advancing Papua New Guinea’s financial system while fostering the development of a digital economy. With the support of the Japanese government, we aim to leverage cutting-edge blockchain technology, proven in various countries, to make a meaningful contribution to this mission,” said Kazumasa Miyazawa, President of Soramitsu Japan.

The PoC required a secure, round-the-clock payment infrastructure that supports instant settlement and cross-border transactions. Using SORA v3 Hub Chain, the Bank of Papua New Guinea and local businesses in Port Moresby conducted real-time payments and individual remittances via a user-friendly mobile app. The platform’s enhanced security features—such as the ability to recover funds in cases of theft or loss—were also tested successfully in partnership with the Bank of Papua New Guinea.

“The Digital Kina PoC with the Bank of Papua New Guinea represents the latest technology we have been working on for the last five years,” said Dr. Makoto Takemiya, Group CEO of Soramitsu. “We are excited to see how this project can bring modern financial solutions for the people of Papua New Guinea that will improve their lives and empower them with greater control over their money.”

Moving forward, the Bank of Papua New Guinea will expand testing with a broader user base to refine the system and gather additional feedback. This will pave the way for a broader rollout in the near future. This next phase will optimize the platform’s speed, security, and regulatory compliance features, bringing Papua New Guinea closer to a more inclusive and resilient financial future.

“Today’s ceremony is a testament to what can be achieved when innovative ideas meet practical execution. The Digital Kina CBDC Proof of Concept is a glimpse into how we can reshape financial interactions in Papua New Guinea. By addressing long-standing challenges, we’re setting the stage for a system that reflects the resilience of our people,” said George Awap, Assistant Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea.

The post Bank of Papua New Guinea, Japan’s METI, and Soramitsu Complete CBDC Proof of Concept in Port Moresby appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

With the backing of Victus Capital, WCO will benefit from a comprehensive support package, including market-making services, access to global trading networks, and key business partnerships. This partnership is set to significantly enhance the WCO ecosystem’s development and adoption, positioning it for global success in the rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.

Commenting on this Partnership, Anish Jain, Founder & CEO of W Chain said. “We are excited to partner with Victus Capital to unlock the full potential of WCO. Their strategic guidance and resources will be invaluable as we continue to build a robust and thriving ecosystem.”

Through this collaboration, WCO stands to gain several significant benefits. Firstly, it will receive market making services, which are designed to enhance liquidity and trading volume across major exchanges. Additionally, the collaboration will support ecosystem development by fostering innovative projects through an accelerator program and establishing strategic business partnerships. Furthermore, WCO will gain global network access, connecting with elite trading groups and expanding into new markets, which is crucial for broadening its reach and influence in the blockchain space. Lastly, this partnership will contribute to brand elevation, enhancing WCO’s visibility and social proof within the blockchain and cryptocurrency communities, ultimately positioning it as a key player in the industry.

Further on this partnership Matisse Eykelberg, Co-founder, Victus Capital added, “We believe in the long-term vision of W Chain and the potential of WCO, our investment will support the ecosystem’s growth and position WCO as a leading player in the blockchain space.”

This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone for WCO, solidifying its position as a key player in the evolving blockchain landscape.

The post W Chain Announces Strategic Investment by Victus Capital to Expand W Coin (WCO) Ecosystem appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

Built for flexibility and speed to market, Lana enables smaller challenger and community banks to bring to market fiat loans secured by bitcoin collateral—providing an attractive means for their customers to access liquidity without selling bitcoin.

Low-Risk Lending with High Liquidity

Bitcoin-backed lending offers reduced risk for banks due to bitcoin’s unparalleled liquidity. Lana simplifies the heavy operational work involved in offering digital asset-backed lending, including the processes involved in loan creation, approval workflows, fee and interest, calculation, and managing margin calls and liquidation, ensuring a reliable experience for banks and their clients.

Lana makes it easy and fast for banks to implement bitcoin-backed loans, reducing the time to market from months or years to just weeks. This enables them to diversify their lending portfolios while achieving better interest rate margins than conventional mortgage or consumer loans.

Why Borrow Instead of Sell?

With Lana, banks of any size can enable their businesses and personal customers to unlock liquidity from their bitcoin while retaining ownership of their assets. This approach allows borrowers to avoid capital gains taxes and maintain exposure to bitcoin’s long-term growth potential. This win-win solution enables a much wider range of banks and institutions to meet the expectations of modern clients seeking innovative financial solutions, and supports a virtuous circle of widening bitcoin adoption.

Seamless Integration and Flexible Custody

Lana integrates seamlessly with core banking systems, cryptocurrency custodians, and exchanges, ensuring compatibility with the existing banking ecosystem. The platform automates key processes like collateral management and liquidation, simplifying operations. Lana is designed for integration with existing custodial solutions, ensuring compatibility with the banking ecosystem and providing institutions with the flexibility to tailor their approach to compliance and risk management.

Ready for the Future of Lending

Lana is designed to meet rigorous regulatory standards, providing a fully auditable and scalable solution for bitcoin-backed lending. As the adoption of digital assets accelerates globally, Lana positions financial institutions to lead in this transformative era of lending.

“Lana equips banks with the tools to offer bitcoin-backed loans confidently and efficiently, creating new opportunities for growth while meeting evolving client needs,” said Nicolas Burtey, Founder at Galoy. “We are proud to introduce a platform that supports financial institutions in navigating the future of banking.”

To learn more about Lana, visit galoy.io or contact the team at biz@galoy.io.

The post Galoy Launches Lana to Unlock Digital Asset Collateralized Lending for Challenger & Community Banks appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.

With over $500M in annual transaction volume, INXY enables businesses to seamlessly accept, send, and exchange digital assets. The platform offers global reach to 193+ countries, cost savings of up to 80% on processing fees, and automated solutions like mass payouts with auto-conversion to fiat or stablecoins. Its compliance with EU regulations and advanced security measures, including KYB/KYC/KYT checks, ensure safe and hassle-free operations.

“This investment validates our vision to make crypto payments accessible and compliant for businesses,” said Ruslan Zholik, CEO of INXY Payments. “We’re excited to expand our global presence and continue driving innovation in the crypto economy.”

“We are thrilled to lead INXY’s investment round and support their mission to bridge traditional finance with the crypto economy. The crypto market is booming, with stablecoins surpassing $6 trillion in annual transactions and INXY is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth” said Alexey Sidorov, Associate Partner at Flashpoint VC. “I’m particularly glad to support a Cyprus-based company, reflecting Flashpoint’s commitment to backing globally oriented entrepreneurs from Europe and Israel.”

The post Flashpoint Made Its 8th Fintech Investment and Led a $3M Finance Round in INXY Payments to Revolutionize Crypto Payments for Businesses appeared first on FF News | Fintech Finance.