Your Weekly Fintech Sales Intelligence Newsletter | Volume 22

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TODAY’S PICK 🎯

Why Your Team’s Missing Quota (And What to do About It!)

Most sales teams have the tech. They’ve got the data. But they’re still falling short.

91% missed quota in 2024—even though 90% are using sales tools during their deal cycle. So what’s going wrong?

It’s not a visibility problem. It’s an execution problem.

This piece breaks down how tool overload, buyer control, and slow decision-making are costing teams deals they should be winning. And why predictable forecasting isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s how high-performers stay ahead.

If you’re serious about closing the gap between “insight” and “action,” start here.

👉Steal their playbook→ How high-performing teams are closing faster in 2025!

📣LEADING VOICES 

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS 🌐

Circle Unveils Real-Time Global Payment Network for Banks and FinTechs

Circle’s rollout of the Circle Payments Network (CPN) marks an important leap for global financial infrastructure, as it addresses long-standing inefficiencies in cross-border payments. By leveraging regulated digital assets and a robust compliance-first framework, CPN promises real-time settlements, lowered costs, and enhanced transparency—critical improvements that particularly benefit emerging markets hindered by slow, expensive transactions.

The initiative stands out due to strategic partnerships with leading banks like Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered, as well as integration with digital asset providers such as Fireblocks. Its modular, programmable architecture opens the door for financial institutions and developers to create innovative payment solutions, streamlining treasury and capital market operations worldwide. CPN’s launch positions Circle at the forefront of modern digital finance, offering a scalable, secure, and regulatory-compliant alternative to traditional payment networks.

MoneyGram and Plaid Partner to Enable Faster, More Secure Cross-Border Payments

MoneyGram’s partnership with Plaid marks a significant advancement for cross-border payment efficiency. By integrating Plaid’s bank verification technology into MoneyGram’s platform, customers in the United States—and soon internationally—can experience faster, more secure account linking and payment funding. This not only accelerates transactions but also proactively reduces fraud and minimizes bank returns, addressing critical concerns for both consumers and businesses.

This collaboration capitalizes on the increasing demand for seamless pay-by-bank solutions, especially as over 75% of U.S. consumers consider bank-account linking essential. The move demonstrates MoneyGram’s commitment to meeting evolving financial expectations, leveraging Plaid’s expansive, trusted network to enhance convenience, security, and reliability for over 50 million customers worldwide. Financial institutions would do well to watch such integrations, as they represent a shift toward more responsive and customer-centric payments ecosystems.

SoFi Secures $3.2 Billion To Expand Personal Loan Operations

SoFi’s recent $3.2 billion funding injection from Fortress Investment Group and EdgeFocus reflects a larger shift within fintech, as industry leaders strategically pivot toward sustainable profitability and capital efficiency. This shift is driven by a maturing sector that is now focusing less on aggressive customer acquisition and market share at all costs, and more on recurring, fee-based revenue streams and operational resilience. Such moves are critical as analysts expect fintech revenue to outpace traditional banking growth rates through 2028.

Retail Investors Accelerate India’s Rapid Shift Toward Mainstream Cryptocurrency Adoption

India’s burgeoning crypto market is being propelled primarily by retail investors, according to Ashish Singhal, Co-founder of CoinSwitch, one of the country’s leading crypto exchanges. This retail-driven trend signifies a democratization of digital asset ownership, where everyday individuals, rather than large institutions, are playing a central role in shaping India’s crypto landscape.

A notable behavioral pattern among Indian investors is their preference for holding cryptocurrencies over frequent trading. This long-term approach demonstrates growing maturity and confidence in digital assets as viable investment vehicles, potentially stabilizing the market and fostering sustainable adoption. For stakeholders in finance, these insights underscore the importance of recognizing retail participation as a foundational pillar in India’s evolving digital economy.

Could Embedded Finance Eventually Make Standalone Banking Apps Obsolete?

Embedded finance is transforming how consumers and businesses access financial services, facilitating seamless integration of payments, lending, insurance, and investments into everyday digital platforms. Industry leaders agree that while embedded finance streamlines customer experiences, standalone banking apps remain essential for security, comprehensive financial management, and complex transactions. These apps provide direct, trusted access to accounts and advanced security measures not always matched by third-party solutions.

Looking forward, a hybrid landscape will likely emerge. Standalone apps will evolve into holistic financial management hubs, offering sophisticated tools and insights, while embedded finance will reduce friction by integrating routine tasks within familiar digital ecosystems. This shift positions banks and financial platforms to engage customers more flexibly, emphasizing transparency, control, and adaptability as core principles in delivering modern financial services.

Global Payments Buys Worldpay For $24 Billion, Divests Issuer Solutions To FIS

Global Payments’ $24 billion acquisition of Worldpay marks a strategic shift toward expanding its global footprint and merchant services, even as its shares fell 17% in response to investor concerns. This major move will enable the company to serve more than six million customers across 175 countries, representing an impressive $3.7 trillion in annual payment volume. At the same time, Global Payments is selling its Issuer Solutions unit to FIS for $13.5 billion, further refocusing on core payment processing rather than back-end financial operations.

Analysts, however, remain cautious, citing potential margin pressures and a possibly less transformative impact than anticipated. While FIS’s stock rose over 8% as it reclaims the “crown jewel” of issuer processing, the long-term benefit for Global Payments lies in its enhanced scale and reach in an increasingly competitive payments landscape. Both deals await regulatory approval, targeting closure in early 2026.

No, Stripe is Not Becoming a Bank

Stripe, a leading name in the fintech industry, has recently taken a notable step by applying for a U.S. banking license, dispelling any speculation that the company is transitioning into a conventional bank. The intended license is narrowly focused; it would permit Stripe to process its own payments, enhancing resilience and minimizing reliance on external partners, rather than engaging in traditional banking services like deposit-taking.

Such a move aligns seamlessly with Stripe's strategic trajectory, allowing for a diversified and robust payment processing infrastructure, particularly in light of challenges like Wells Fargo's exit from BIN sponsorship roles. If granted by the third quarter of 2025, this license could fortify Stripe's position, enabling it to maintain stability and enhance its service scope across different geographical locations. Overall, this initiative exemplifies Stripe's commitment to innovation and adaptability in the dynamic landscape of financial technology.