Fintech · Industry brief

Global fintech investment reached $103.1 billion in H1 2026 across 2,100 deals, rising from $72.2 billion in H2 2025, with M&A accounting for the largest share at $67.9 billion across 394 deals driven by two $10 billion+ acquisitions including a $24.3 billion acquisition of a major global payments company. Cross-border M&A activity was particularly notable at $20.2 billion as corporates and fintechs expanded capabilities across borders. VC investment came second with $31.5 billion across 1,641 deals, while PE investment revived to $3.6 billion. The Americas dominated with $86.9 billion in funding ($80.8 billion in the US alone), while EMEA saw fintech investment decline to $11.3 billion from $18.0 billion in H2 2025 due to geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainties. Corporate VC investment reached $16.3 billion, on pace for a four-year high, with significant activity in digital assets and currencies driven by crypto platforms and infrastructure companies expanding the digital assets ecosystem. Investors are concentrating capital on proven business models and market leaders, with payments consolidation particularly notable as investment jumped to $44.2 billion in H1 2026 compared to $20.2 billion for all of 2025, though deal volume declined as investors favored scaled, profitable infrastructure-focused businesses over early-stage ventures. [Source: kpmg]

Brazilian digital bank Nubank is reportedly weighing a bid to acquire U.K. fintech Monzo at a valuation of £8 billion to £10 billion ($10.6 billion to $13.2 billion), according to the Financial Times. The deal would involve a mix of cash and shares, though Monzo is also exploring alternative options including a 15% private equity stake sale or a venture capital-style funding round. This comes as Monzo's new CEO Diana Layfield has refocused the company on European expansion following the shutdown of U.S. operations and the company's previous withdrawal of its banking charter application in 2021, when regulators indicated approval was unlikely. [Source: pymnts]

Priority Technology agreed to go private in an approximately $1.6 billion all-cash deal led by its chairman and CEO. Stakk completed its A$88.7 million acquisition of fraud-detection software provider ParaScript, while MoonPay agreed to acquire North Capital's securities brokerage and investment advisory businesses. Additional fintech M&A activity included BlackLine acquiring NetNow, PLACE acquiring Maxwell, Huspy acquiring Integra Finance, Kredete acquiring Gravv, and Citrea acquiring Crest. Airtel Money plans a London IPO seeking at least $800 million at a targeted $8 billion to $9 billion valuation, while Orion180 Insurance raised $240 million in its Nasdaq IPO and Moneyview opened its ₹10.92 billion IPO in India. U.S. fintechs continued pursuing bank charters with Avant applying for a de novo bank charter and stablecoin company Bastion receiving conditional approval for a national trust bank charter. In Canada, Tru Cooperative Bank and Libro Credit Union began exploring a merger that would create a financial cooperative with nearly C$33 billion in combined assets. Revolut received approval from Argentina's central bank to acquire Banco Cetelem Argentina from BNP Paribas Personal Finance. [Source: thisweekinfi]