The Monday Roundup: what we are watching this week | July 6th

By Puja Sharma

The Monday Roundup sets the scene for the week’s biggest news stories, industry deals, and upcoming events. For Prime subscribers only.

Japan’s largest domestic cryptocurrency exchange

Visa has launched Visa Payment Passkey (VPP) in India with IDFC FIRST Bank, introducing a new authentication solution designed to simplify online card payments while reducing reliance on one-time passwords (OTPs).

The solution has gone live with IDFC FIRST Bank, Visa’s first banking partner in the country to enable the service for cardholders. It has also been made available to select users across merchants including Myntra, Paytm, MakeMyTrip, Tata Starbucks, Reliance Digital and EatSure, supported by FinTech partners such as Juspay, Wibmo, Razorpay, PayU, Pine Labs, BillDesk, M2P FinTech and Paytm Payments Services.

Built on FIDO authentication standards, Visa Payment Passkey has enabled cardholders to authenticate online transactions using their device’s native security features, including fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, PINs, passwords or patterns. The solution has been developed in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s Framework on Alternative Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions, supporting authentication methods beyond traditional OTPs. Visa has said the solution is expected to improve payment success rates while reducing the number of steps required to complete online transactions. Following a one-time enrolment, users can access a consistent authentication experience across participating merchants and platforms. The technology is compatible with major operating systems and browsers and supports billions of FIDO-enabled devices globally.

State Bank of India (SBI) Holdings plans to acquire Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank in a transaction valued at approximately $320 million, a move aimed at strengthening the group’s digital asset business and expanding its presence in Japan’s crypto exchange market.

State Bank of India Holdings has said the acquisition aligns with its strategy to strengthen its domestic cryptocurrency exchange business while expanding its digital asset capabilities, including stablecoins and on-chain finance. By combining the customer bases, technology capabilities, security and compliance frameworks, and operational resources of both companies, the group has aimed to enhance cryptocurrency trading services and broaden its digital financial offerings. The combined business is expected to hold approximately $7.5 billion in assets under custody and serve around 2.92 million cryptocurrency accounts. State Bank of India Holdings has said this would position the group as Japan’s largest domestic cryptocurrency exchange operator by assets under custody and among the country’s leading providers by customer accounts. The transaction is expected to create synergies across both businesses by leveraging Bitbank’s security expertise alongside State Bank of India Holdings’ broader financial services ecosystem. The company has said the acquisition will strengthen its competitiveness in the cryptocurrency and digital asset market while supporting the development of new financial services. State Bank of IndiaHoldings has added that the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.

Enhancing point-of-sale (POS) infrastructure

Network International has launched Slice, a card-based instalment payment solution that enables shoppers in the UAE to split eligible purchases into interest-free, fee-free instalments at the point of sale.

Developed in collaboration with participating banks, the solution has been integrated into Network International’s existing point-of-sale (POS) infrastructure, allowing customers to convert purchases from approximately $27 into instalments without additional registration or approval. The option has been made available both in-store and online through participating merchants.

The company has said Slice operates within the existing card payment flow, enabling shoppers to choose between paying in full or in instalments during checkout. By removing the need for separate instalment platforms, the solution has been designed to simplify the payment experience while providing merchants with faster settlements and a streamlined checkout process.

According to Network International, around 55% of credit cards in the UAE have already been enabled for Slice through partnerships with participating card issuers, allowing eligible cardholders to access the service immediately. The launch has expanded Network International’s portfolio of value-added payment services as the company continues to strengthen its payment acceptance infrastructure across the region. The company expects the solution to help merchants improve conversion rates, increase average transaction values and offer customers greater flexibility at checkout while supporting the continued growth of digital payments in the UAE

Adyen has completed its acquisitions of loyalty platform Talon.One and enterprise billing provider Orb, while announcing leadership changes to support the integration of the two businesses and its expanding product portfolio. Both acquisitions have officially closed on 1 July 2026 after receiving the required regulatory approvals and satisfying customary closing conditions. Adyen has now begun integrating Talon.One’s promotions platform and Orb’s billing capabilities into its payments and financial technology offering.

Alongside the completion of the transactions, Adyen has appointed Gayathri Rajan as Chief Product Officer with immediate effect. Hwa Tsao, currently Senior Vice President of Group Finance, has also been named interim Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 September 2026, following the previously announced departure of Ethan Tandowsky.

The appointments have been made as Co-Chief Executive Officer Ingo Uytdehaage oversees the integration of Talon.One and Orb. Both executives will report directly to Adyen’s Co-CEOs during the integration phase. Rajan has brought more than 25 years of experience in product and technology leadership, having previously held roles at Google, DriveWealth and Vanguard. Tsao has contributed more than two decades of finance leadership experience across the technology and financial services sectors, including positions at ServiceNow, HP and Citigroup. Adyen has confirmed that its search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer is continuing as planned and has stated that there have been no changes to its existing financial objectives following the completion of the acquisitions.

What is the Buzz

Indian FinTech unicorn Moneyview has secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to proceed with its proposed initial public offering (IPO), marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth as it continues to expand its digital lending business.

According to the company, the IPO will comprise a fresh issue of shares worth more than $175 million alongside an offer for sale (OFS) of 136.1 million shares by existing shareholders.

Founded in 2014, Moneyview has focused on providing AI-powered financial services to underserved and new-to-credit customers, particularly across Tier II and Tier III cities in India. Its product portfolio has expanded to include personal loans, credit score services, insurance and other digital financial solutions. The company has said it currently serves more than 125 million users and works with over 40 financial institution partners to deliver its lending and financial products. Moneyview has reported revenue of approximately $278 million for FY25, alongside a net profit of around $28 million. During the first nine months of FY26, the company has generated revenue of approximately $282 million and reported profit of about $29 million, reflecting continued business growth.

According to the company, proceeds from the fresh issue have been earmarked to support loan book expansion, with around $76 million allocated for lending growth and approximately $52 million planned as an investment in its subsidiary, Whizdm Finance. The proposed listing has come as India’s FinTech sector continues to witness increasing public market activity, with digital lenders seeking capital to scale operations, strengthen lending capabilities and broaden financial inclusion initiatives. Moneyview’s planned IPO is expected to support its next phase of expansion while reinforcing its position in India’s rapidly evolving digital lending market.