The Weekly Wrap: all you need to know by Friday COB | Dec 12th

By Puja Sharma

The Weekly Wrap is published every Friday and recaps the week’s main stories and deals, as well as upcoming events and announcements for Prime subscribers only.

The Big Story

Barclays has acquired a minority stake in United Fintech, making it the fifth global bank to invest in the London- and Copenhagen-based FinTech consolidation platform. The move expands United Fintech’s roster of strategic bank shareholders, which already includes BNP Paribas, Citi, Danske Bank and, most recently, Standard Chartered.

The investment gives Barclays a seat on United Fintech’s Board of Directors and underscores the growing interest among large financial institutions in industry-neutral platforms that can streamline access to specialised FinTech solutions. United Fintech has positioned itself as an infrastructure layer connecting banks, asset managers and wealth managers with a curated portfolio of technology providers.

The partnership follows a year of accelerated expansion for United Fintech. In 2025, the company completed two acquisitions, bringing its portfolio to seven FinTechs. It now operates 11 offices globally and employs more than 200 people. Its recently acquired capabilities span commercial banking, capital markets and investment management, with a focus on modernising legacy infrastructure and enabling secure deployment of AI-driven innovation through a single access point.

Danske Bank, an existing investor, welcomed the addition. “We are pleased to welcome Barclays as an investor and Board Member, further strengthening the group of global banks backing United Fintech. We remain excited about the prospects of United Fintech delivering real innovation through solutions delivered to well-established financial institutions built on a trusted governance of delivery,” said Claus Harder, Head of Group Strategy & M&A at Danske Bank.

The deal reflects a broader industry trend in which large financial institutions are deepening ties with FinTech-scaling platforms to accelerate digital transformation while mitigating integration and governance risks.

Deals of the week

• Skydo secures $10m to expand global payment infrastructure
• Yonda Tax raises $15m to accelerate compliance automation
• MetaComp secures $22m to scale hybrid stablecoin–fiat network
• PayAdmit adds Yaspa’s Pay by bank to enhance A2A payments
• Fibe raises $35m from IFC to scale responsible lending
• RZOLUT enables stronger compliance controls for Vision Bank
• GSX, Ubuntu Tribe partner on gold-backed digital payments
• TestingXperts opens Mumbai engineering & AI center

Be on the lookout for

The IBSi Awards bring together one of the world’s most influential assemblies of banking and FinTech leaders, celebrating excellence across digital transformation, innovation, and the future of financial services. Recognised globally as a benchmark for outstanding achievement, the awards spotlight visionary CEOs, technology innovators, and pioneering institutions redefining modern banking.

Each year, senior executives from leading banks, FinTechs, venture funds, and global technology providers participate in this prestigious platform, gaining insights into cutting-edge advancements in AI-powered banking, embedded finance, core modernisation, payments innovation, and digital ecosystems. With thought‑leadership sessions, high‑impact discussions, and unmatched networking opportunities, the IBSi Awards continue to serve as the definitive stage for honoring the leaders and organisations shaping the next generation of financial services. Stay tuned for the 2026 schedule of IBSi Awards, where global innovators will once again be recognised for excellence.