Financial Infrastructure

Last week's financial infrastructure coverage included several newsletters focused on AI's role in fintech. Linas's Newsletter published multiple pieces arguing that Revolut Research demonstrates fintech's real AI moat is proprietary data rather than lab-style AI development, alongside separate posts noting that Stripe now owns the $140B startup Legal OS, that nobody wants to pay for the smartest AI, and that Nvidia has become the buyer of last resort for its own chips. Fintech Radar's Issue #172 also touched on AI themes, covering Stripe's acquisition of an AI router, Ramp building its own version, and Experian's presence in ChatGPT.

Deal and acquisition activity was covered by multiple outlets. Fintech Futures reported on Bain Capital leading a $74m strategic investment for RQD Clearing, as well as Basware's planned acquisition of Trustpair, a corporate account validation technology provider. Connecting the Dots in FinTech covered a €6.6M investment from Mollie into Neno, described as a bet on AI accounting. Stack and Story reported that Fasset hit $1B, a milestone tied to emerging-market plumbing.

Other infrastructure and liquidity topics appeared as well. Fintech Notebook covered developments related to Finastra, referencing an unfinished breakup without further elaboration. Lombard Notes addressed local liquidity issues within the stablecoin sandwich framework, specifically the "local leg" of that structure.

Taken together, the week's tagged posts spanned AI's competitive implications for fintech, notable funding and acquisition deals, and infrastructure-related developments at firms including Finastra and within stablecoin liquidity mechanisms.