F|T: The FinTech Times – Ethereum 2.0

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Affirm to acquire PayBright for $340 million CAD (BETAKIT)

PayBright, one of Canada’s leading buy-now-pay-later providers, is set to be acquired by San Francisco-based Affirm.


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Facebook-backed cryptocurrency Libra renamed to Diem as it pushes for regulatory approval (THE GLOBE AND MAIL)

Plans for Libra, first floated by Facebook last year, were slimmed-down in April after regulators and central banks raised concerns it could upend financial stability.


Shopify Balance to be powered by Stripe, Evolve Bancorp (BETAKIT)

Stripe is already the payment processor for Shopify’s payments product.


Vancouver-based FinTech Progressa, once readying for IPO, files for creditor protection instead (THE LOGIC)

Vancouver-based Progressa, an alternative lender, filed under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in late September, with court documents showing it owed tens of millions and required an immediate infusion of money.


Canadian cybersecurity leaders say ecosystem requires community to grow (BETAKIT)

Kevin Magee (Microsoft), Christopher Salvatore (Cybersecure Catalyst), and Tahseen Shabab (Penfield) explore how Canada can build a cybersecurity ecosystem.


The world’s second-biggest cryptocurrency is getting a major upgrade — here’s what you need to know (CNBC)

Ethereum has begun its long-awaited shift to 2.0. Proponents say that the planned upgrade could allow thousands more transactions to take place every second.


Klarna’s CEO: I worry about debt too. I know we’re not perfect (SIFTED)

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, the chief of Europe’s most-valued FinTech, discusses the ethics of lending and the competitors he obsesses over.


Faire megadeal icing on top of Waterloo Region’s strong Q3 2020 (BETAKIT)

Startups raised a total of $349.5 million in Q3 2020, a 135 percent increase for the Waterloo Region.


Stripe to offer banking services in deal with Goldman Sachs, Citigroup (WALL STREET JOURNAL)

Stripe Inc. is teaming up with banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. to offer checking accounts and other business-banking services, the startup’s latest attempt to become the internet economy’s financial supermarket.


FinTech firm Revolut takes aim at Stripe with payment software for businesses (CNBC)

Revolut’s new acquiring solution lets firms install plug-in checkout software or build their own custom features to take card payments online.


Caitlin Hotchkiss

Caitlin Hotchkiss

Content coordinator, social media smartypants, wordsmith, Human Workflow™. Exists primarily on coffee, cat pictures, German dance metal, and pro wrestling. I will fight for your right to the Oxford comma.

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