U.K.

London-based crypto payments app Ziglu, launched by Starling Bank co-founder Mark Hipperson, has raised £6 million (about $8 million) on the Seedrs equity crowdfunding platform.

After tests with several banks that established Swift's ability to connect its Global Payments Initiative faster payments rail to domestic networks, the financial and messaging standards organization is activating the service in the U.K.

For years, business models based around micropayments have been touted as an alternative to advertising, offering a new form of revenue for all kinds of content creators, enabling users to pay for the exact quantity of services they consume. They have even been suggested as a way to create alternative insurance products, for example forms of car insurance where drivers pay per journey.

Viva Wallet is offering London’s 20,000 black taxis a Mastercard-branded business debit card whose cashback is meant to be offset against card acceptance fees at the acquirer’s in-taxi terminals.

Many countries are positioning themselves as a destination for fintechs seeking EU-wide licenses as the U.K. leaves the EU. Following Brexit, U.K. electronic money and payments institution licenses across the EU won’t be passportable across the EU.

My Digital is working with Modulr to deliver automated payroll services for U.K. contract workers.

U.K. fintech Currensea has launched its first open banking-based debit card for British small businesses trading internationally. The card, which links to users’ existing high street bank accounts, builds on the pre-open banking concept of a decoupled debit card.

Less than a year after Curve launched its cross-border P2P service to solidify its mobile banking app, the London-based company says it is expanding into Lithuania to establish a post-Brexit European base.

With the U.K. careening toward a no-deal Brexit in the midst of a health crisis and economic downturn, the government is suggesting a breakup with the EU could defray the costs of cash usage and access.

PayPal has launched a new buy now, pay later (BNPL) product in the U.K. called “Pay in 3” to take on rivals Afterpay, Klarna and others ahead of the winter holiday shopping season.