Blockchain
Fintech mega-deals lead to record-breaking $120 billion transaction value in 1H2019, reveals Hampleton Partners’ research report
- Fintech M&A deal volume reaches three-year high with 198 deals in 1H 2019, up from 164 in 2H2018
- Global venture capital investment in fintech achieves record-level in Q2 2019 with $10.9 billion raised[1]
London, UK – 20 August 2019 – Three fintech mega-deals totalling $87 billion set the scene for a record-breaking $120 billion in disclosed transaction value for the sector in a ‘white-hot’ first half of 2019, reveals Hampleton Partners, in its latest global Fintech M&A Market Report.
Hampleton Partners, which specialises in international technology M&A and corporate finance, noted that all three of the top transactions were in the payments processing segment: Fidelity National Information Services acquired Worldpay for $43.6bn; Fiserv acquired First Data for $22bn and Global Payments acquired Total System Services for $21.2bn.
Hampleton’s report pointed to a revitalised M&A market since the slump in 2H2018, as well as an overall trend for larger deal sizes: 65 per cent of deals exceeded $100 million in 1H2019, compared to only 54 per cent in 2018 (disclosed deal values).
Jonathan Simnett, director and fintech specialist, Hampleton Partners, said: “The fintech M&A market is white-hot in Europe and North America. Financial businesses and institutions are increasingly open to adopting large-scale fintech in transaction processing or enterprise financial software, and as the financial services industry re-structures, competition for game-changing assets is increasing.”
Fintech fundraising continues to break records
Fundraising in fintech continues its record-breaking course. With 818 fundraises so far in 2019, the anticipated annualised figure of 1,636 would set a new annual record, narrowly beating those figures recorded in 2017 (1,632) and in 2016 (1,633). Furthermore, excluding the Ant Financial deal of June 2018, Q2 2019 recorded the most fintech fundraising ever with $10.9 billion raised.
All this confirms that, while they seem to be gradually multiplying in number, fintech funding rounds in North America and Europe are becoming larger. However, Asia is not currently sharing the same level of fundraising success, with fundraise count and value stagnating.
Enterprise financial software
Excluding the three mega-deals in payments processing, enterprise financial software remained the largest fintech sub-sector, with over 75 per cent of remaining disclosed deal value and just under 50 per cent of all deal volume – 98 deals.
Significant deals in enterprise financial software included Thoma Bravo’s acquisition of Ellie Mae, a provider of mortgage loan origination, for $3.7 billion, making it the fourth largest transaction of 1H2019, at 7.5x EV/S.
Key trends in fintech
As challengers use their agility to attract new customers, legacy players are forced to acquire the necessary technology to compete. Investors and acquirers will tend towards targets that focus on automation via disruptive technology, such as real-time payment processing technology; AI chatbots (expected to save banks $7.3 billion annually by 2023); and mobile banking, as in-person branch visits are set to fall 36 per cent between 2017 and 2021.
Challenger banks like Chime, OakNorth or N26 will also continue to grow, whilst regtech is on the rise, allowing firms to stay compliant through cloud-based platforms and machine learning.
Meanwhile, blockchain utilisation continues to spread through collaborative platforms like Bitpay with Visa.
The future of fintech fundraising
Jonathan Simnett concluded: “The heat is being applied to fundraising, auguring well for future large-scale fintech exits. 2Q2019 proved to be the largest quarter ever for fintech fundraising, with Europe already exceeding its 2018 annual record. As Europe and North America power ahead of the currently moribund Asian fintech fundraising market, we expect this to yield several large-scale fintech M&A transactions in the future.”
[1] Excluding Ant Financial’s €14 billion round in June 2018
ENDS
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Note to Editors:
Hampleton Partners’ Fintech M&A Market Report is compiled using data and information from the 451 Research database (www.451research.com) and from CapitalIQ, a product of S&P Global.
Download the full Hampleton Partners’ Fintech M&A Market Report: https://www.hampletonpartners.com/reports/fintech-report/
About Hampleton Partners
Hampleton Partners is at the forefront of international mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance advisory for companies with technology at their core. Hampleton’s experienced deal makers have built, bought and sold over 100 fast-growing tech businesses and provide hands-on expertise and unrivalled advice to tech entrepreneurs and companies which are looking to accelerate growth and maximise value.
With offices in London, Frankfurt and San Francisco, Hampleton offers a global perspective with sector expertise in: Automotive Technology, IoT, AI, Fintech, Hi-Tech Industrials & Industry 4.0, Cybersecurity, VR/AR, Healthtech, Digital Marketing, Enterprise Software, SaaS & Cloud and E-commerce.
Follow Hampleton on LinkedIn and Twitter.
For more information visit https://www.hampletonpartners.com
Source: RealWire
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain (Ethereum, Quantum Emotions, Pepeto, Zeus Investments, AgileGTM)
Ethereum’s Challenges Highlight the Importance of Blockchain Integrity
Ethereum, once hailed as the undisputed king of smart contract platforms, is facing mounting criticism over scalability issues and increasing centralization concerns. Critics argue that Ethereum’s looming challenges serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining blockchain integrity in the pursuit of innovation.
The network’s shift to proof-of-stake has introduced debates about validator centralization and network control. As transaction fees remain high and competition from newer blockchains intensifies, Ethereum’s journey underscores the delicate balance between growth and decentralization in the blockchain ecosystem.
Source: Bitcoin Magazine
Quantum Emotions Introduces Revolutionary Quantum Wallet
Quantum Emotions, a pioneering quantum technology firm, has unveiled its groundbreaking quantum wallet designed to provide unprecedented security for blockchain users. Leveraging quantum random number generators, the wallet ensures ultra-secure private key management and protection against emerging quantum threats.
As the blockchain industry prepares for a quantum computing era, innovations like this wallet highlight the need to future-proof digital assets. Quantum Emotions’ solution is a step forward in safeguarding the integrity of blockchain transactions in an increasingly complex technological landscape.
Source: Finance Yahoo
Pepeto Simplifies Cross-Chain Trading for Blockchain Users
Pepeto, a trailblazer in the blockchain space, is revolutionizing cross-chain trading with its user-friendly platform. By simplifying blockchain transfers across different networks, Pepeto addresses a significant pain point for users navigating the complexities of decentralized finance (DeFi).
The platform’s intuitive interface and efficient protocols enable seamless asset transfers while reducing transaction costs and processing times. As interoperability becomes a crucial factor in the blockchain sector, Pepeto’s innovation is set to reshape how users interact with decentralized ecosystems.
Source: Bitcoinist
Zeus Investments Launches Blockchain Research Division
Zeus Investments has announced the launch of its dedicated blockchain research division, aimed at driving innovation and identifying strategic opportunities in the blockchain sector. The division will focus on exploring emerging technologies, evaluating market trends, and fostering partnerships with industry leaders.
By committing resources to blockchain research, Zeus Investments signals its belief in the transformative potential of decentralized technologies. This initiative underscores the growing interest among traditional financial institutions in harnessing blockchain’s disruptive capabilities.
Source: Finance Yahoo
AgileGTM Blockchain Fund Secures $2M in First Close of $10M VC Fund
AgileGTM has achieved a significant milestone by securing $2 million in the first close of its $10 million pan-European blockchain venture capital fund. The fund aims to support early-stage blockchain startups across Europe, focusing on innovative solutions in areas such as DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications.
This development highlights the increasing appetite for blockchain investment and the role of venture capital in accelerating the growth of the industry. AgileGTM’s initiative reflects the potential for blockchain to drive economic transformation and innovation across diverse sectors.
Source: Tech.eu
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Blockchain
xPortal Acquires Alphalink to Drive Innovation at the Intersection of AI and Crypto
xPortal, the AI-powered DeFi super-app, has acquired Alphalink, a Berlin-based Web3 startup recognized for delivering delightfully simple crypto experiences through its mobile app. The acquisition marks a major milestone in xPortal’s goal to simplify crypto and financial investing.
With over 2.5 million users and a 4.8-star rating from 70K+ app store reviews, xPortal combines crypto, real-world functionality, and AI into a single, user-friendly mobile app.
xPortal launched in 2023 as the wallet for the MultiversX blockchain (prev. Elrond) and quickly expanded into multi-chain territory, integrating Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Polygon and more.
As part of its growth strategy, xPortal is raising capital in an anticipated oversubscribed round while making a full-scale push into AI, expanding into the U.S. and launching a native token to its ecosystem
Active xPortal users will also benefit from lucrative opportunities that will further fuel the ecosystem.
Empowered Leadership
Through the acquisition, xPortal brings seasoned FinTech and crypto innovators Marko Bradic as Co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) and Mohit Tilwani as Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to complement the dream team together with Sergiu Biris, Co-founder and CEO of xPortal.
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Marko Bradic (ex-CEO of Alphalink) previously scaled Trade Republic – the $5B European Robinhood backed by Sequoia – to 4 million users, €180 million in annual revenue, and €35 billion in AUM.
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Mohit Tilwani (ex CTO of Alphalink) brings over a decade of engineering experience to xPortal. Served as the first engineering lead at Trade Republic, he scaled systems to support 8 million customers.
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Sergiu Biris (CEO of xPortal) is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience. He was the co-founder of LiveRail, a video advertising platform acquired by Facebook (now Meta) in 2014 for $500 million.
“Marko and Mohit’s experience in building and scaling world-class fintech products aligns perfectly with xPortal’s mission to make crypto easy to use and accessible to everyone. Their expertise strengthens our vision of blending crypto and AI with real-world utility. I’m extremely excited about what we’re going to be building together in the years to come.” – Sergiu Biris, Co-founder and CEO of xPortal
Beniamin Mincu, Co-founder and CEO of MultiversX added: “Through the acquisition of Alphalink xPortal is taking a bold step towards the future. One where crypto is merging with AI to deliver the best experiences to everyday users. xPortal started as a core part of MultiversX and, driven by this team of world class founders, is now becoming independent, creating its own story. I believe xPortal is poised to drive global crypto adoption, bringing unparalleled value to its users and the broader Web3 space.”
DeFi to DeFAI: What if your money had Brains?
Leading the paradigm shift from DeFi to DeFAI, xPortal is transforming how users interact with money. Making crypto easy and accessible for everyone, xPortal is building a vertically integrated network of specialized DeFAI agents that work autonomously, simplifying complex user tasks and removing onboarding and engagement friction through seamless chain management.
With features like effortless on-off ramps, cross-chain trading, staking, Web3 dApp integration, and Mastercards for everyday payments, the super-app bridges the gap between crypto and real-world utility.
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Blockchain
Humanity Protocol and Open Campus Partner to Integrate Achievements and Interoperable Credentials for Decentralized Education
Humanity Protocol, the leader in on-chain Proof of Humanity (PoH) and decentralized identity, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Open Campus (EDU), the Web3 education protocol.
This collaboration will redefine digital identity and credentialing for learners, educators, and developers, enabling interoperable, privacy-preserving credentials that can be seamlessly used across decentralized ecosystems.
Humanity Protocol’s Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) framework and Proof of Humanity (PoH) technology ensure Sybil-resistant, verified human authentication for Web3 applications. Open Campus complements this by empowering users with tools to issue, manage, and utilize education-related credentials through its Open Campus ID and Achievements System.
Together, the two projects aim to unlock a future where identity and educational credentials are secure, interoperable, and privacy-focused.
At the core of this partnership is the integration of Open Campus Achievements and Open Campus ID with Humanity Protocol’s decentralized identity graph. This integration ensures that credentials issued on Open Campus are validated and interoperable, allowing users to showcase their verified educational accomplishments across Web3 platforms.
Key features of the collaboration include:
- Achievement Verification: Open Campus will focus on issuing education-related credentials, such as course completions, certifications, and learning milestones. These Achievements will be authenticated using Humanity Protocol’s verifiable credential (VC) framework, enabling secure and portable credentialing.
- Interoperable Identity: Open Campus ID will integrate with Humanity Protocol’s Proof of Humanity, providing users with privacy-preserving, Sybil-resistant identities. These identities will enable users to leverage their credentials in governance, professional, and educational applications.
The partnership between Humanity Protocol and Open Campus introduces new use cases that benefit learners, educators, and developers. Users can create portable, privacy-preserving portfolios combining Proof of Humanity and verified Open Campus Achievements. These portfolios can be used in professional and academic settings to showcase skills and accomplishments securely.
Learners and educators can leverage their interoperable identities to participate in governance activities on both Humanity Protocol and Open Campus platforms. By tying voting to verified individuals, governance becomes more transparent and fair. dApp developers can build applications that integrate Humanity Protocol’s identity verification with Open Campus’s credentialing, enabling innovations in decentralized education, recruitment, and professional networking.
In addition to technical integration, Humanity Protocol will actively support Open Campus in its ongoing conversations with educational institutions. By providing expertise in decentralized identity and credentialing, Humanity Protocol will help Open Campus establish trust and drive adoption of its Achievements and Open Campus ID among schools, universities, and certification bodies.
This collaboration strengthens the bridge between traditional education systems and the decentralized future. Humanity Protocol’s zkProofers will ensure that all verifications remain privacy-focused. Users will be able to prove their identities and credentials without exposing sensitive personal data, enabling secure and trustworthy interactions in education, governance, and professional contexts. By integrating these privacy-preserving solutions, the partnership ensures that credentials remain both secure and portable across ecosystems.
Terence Kwok, Founder and CEO of Humanity Protocol says: “Our partnership with Open Campus marks a significant milestone in integrating decentralized identity with education. By combining Proof of Humanity with Open Campus Achievements and Open Campus ID, we empower learners and educators to take control of their credentials in a way that is secure, interoperable, and privacy-focused. Humanity Protocol is also proud to support Open Campus in its ongoing conversations with educational institutions, helping to bridge Web3 innovation with traditional education systems.”
Jonah Lau, Head of Open Campus (EDU) and Portfolio Management, Animoca Brand says: “Collaborating with Humanity Protocol enhances the usability and security of Open Campus Achievements and IDs. By integrating with Proof of Humanity, we’re ensuring that learners and educators can seamlessly use their credentials across Web3, paving the way for a more interconnected and equitable decentralized education ecosystem. This partnership positions Open Campus as a leader in Web3 education innovation.”
The post Humanity Protocol and Open Campus Partner to Integrate Achievements and Interoperable Credentials for Decentralized Education appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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