The biggest tech questions of 2025
A cleantech crisis? More centaurs? No more VCCI? FinTech IPOs? Quantum leaps? Let’s dig in.
FinTech
Shakepay bolsters regulatory standing with CIRO membership
First Québec-based crypto exchange to earn investment dealer status.
California-based loan collection platform Eltropy acquires Lexop for undisclosed amount
Combined company to continue operating in both California and Montréal.
Bench had a crazier holiday break than your startup
Bench acquired by Employer.com three days after abrupt Dec. 27 closure.
Thomson Reuters acquires American tax automation software SafeSend for $600 million USD
SafeSend integrates with various tax preparation products, including Thomson Reuters’s own UltraTax CS.
Fiserv to acquire Payfare in $201.5-million CAD deal after swiping its DoorDash business
Pending transaction follows Payfare’s share price plummet and strategic review in September.
Koho rolls out AI tool to help investigate fraud and scams
FinTech startup not yet confident about generative AI in customer-facing products.
Fall Economic Statement brings more delays for open banking in Canada
Feds up FCAC commitment but push open banking rollout to 2026, with several legislative hurdles to overcome.
Feds struggle to table Fall Economic Statement following Minister Freeland’s shock resignation
Mini-budget with many tech commitments comes during a day of chaos on the Hill.
Paystone to acquire fellow payments processor Ackroo for $21 million
The last time Ackroo stock was valued at the purchase price of $0.15 per share was November 2021.
Cyder closes $1.5 million to fuel launch of loyalty platform for credit unions
FinTech startup’s backers include MaRS IAF, Aperture, Desjardins, Arlene Dickinson.
BC Securities Commission fines ezBtc owner $18.4 million over crypto fraud
CBSC previously found crypto platform had diverted one-third of customer deposits to personal accounts.
Online brokerage Questrade lays off undisclosed number of employees
Questrade appears to have quietly exited digital mortgage business around same time Wealthsimple entered it.
Hopper restructures again following renewal of Expedia partnership
Hopper reportedly cut 10 percent of staff just over a year after its last restructuring.
WonderFi and Kraken Canada each break $2-billion CAD mark for assets under custody
Kraken’s Canadian operation exceeds $2 billion as WonderFi reports a 110 percent growth since year-end 2023.