Author: TheWireHub.net

The line between fintechs and banks continued to blur in 2025 as fintech companies acquired or applied for bank charters in various forms this year. From acquiring banks with existing charters to applying for de novo charters under the new administration, technology companies are increasingly inserting themselves into the market of traditional financial institutions in the U.S.Processing ContentHere are the most-read stories regarding fintechs and bank charters in 2025:Why fintechs are buying up banks Fintechs looking to gain the benefits of bank charters are starting to acquire them again by buying up banks.After several years of almost no fintech/bank M&A…

Bitcoin is closing out 2025 near $87,000, ending the year in a narrow trading range after months of fading momentum. Thin holiday liquidity and a lack of fresh catalysts left the market drifting into the final session of the year, capping a period marked less by explosive gains than by consolidation and unmet expectations. At the time of writing, bitcoin was trading just below $88,000, roughly flat over the past week and modestly lower than where it began the year. The price has spent much of December oscillating between the low $80,000s and the high $80,000s, with repeated attempts to…

NeoSapien, an AI wearable startup incubated at the Scaler Innovation Lab, has raised $2 million in seed funding led by Merak Ventures, with support from top angel investors. The round includes Anupam Mittal, founder of Shaadi.com; Namita Thapar, Executive Director at Emcure Pharmaceuticals; Sameer Mehta, co-founder of Boat; Awais Ahmed, founder of Pixxel; and Aprameya Radhakrishna, co-founder of Koo.AI wearable startup NeoSapien raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Merak Ventures. (NeoSapien )The funding reflects investor interest in NeoSapien’s early traction and its plans to build India’s AI-native consumer hardware, an approach shaped through technical mentorship and product iteration…

Listen to this article The Blueprint Global stocks rebounded from April’s tariff shock to post another year of strong gains. Gold jumped nearly 70% in its strongest annual performance since 1979. Bond markets saw renewed volatility as long-term yields and term premia rose. AI investment, crypto swings, and geopolitical risks reshaped market expectations. LONDON — Most investors knew 2025 would be different given U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to power in the world’s biggest economy, but few predicted how wild the ride would get, or the end results. World stocks recovered from April’s “Liberation Day” tariffs crash to add another…

Despite the common advice to start a budget, many people find it difficult to stick to a budget or feel like budgeting just doesn’t work for them. Rich & REGULAR, a popular money podcast by Kiersten and Julian Saunders, recently shared a fresh perspective on why most budgeting advice falls short.For You: 6 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000Learn More: 8 Frugal Habits Americans Are Ridiculed for — and Why You Shouldn’t CareLet’s explore why most budgeting advice doesn’t work and how a more flexible, realistic approach can help you take control of your finances and actually…

2025 was a significant year of advancement for Apple’s software, with a noticeable focus on visual design, productivity, and communication. While Apple introduced and continued to iterate on a wide range of features throughout the year, several additions stood out for their scope and practical impact across multiple devices. As the year comes to an end, these five new features provide a useful lens for weighing up what the company focused on this year and how far its platforms evolved in 2025. Liquid Glass This year’s most immediately visible change is the introduction of Liquid Glass, a new system-wide visual…

Listen to this article Summary: – AI adoption in Oklahoma moves from experimental to core business operations. – Cybersecurity, managed services and ethical AI policies become top priorities. – Workforce reskilling is key as automation and human-AI collaboration expand. As 2026 approaches, Oklahoma’s technology sector stands at a pivotal moment, with artificial intelligence reshaping industries and workforce dynamics at an unprecedented pace. Brandy Semore, Vice President of Professional Services at Pinnacle Business Systems and cofounder of Oklahoma Women in Technology, offers insights into how businesses and individuals can navigate these rapid changes. From AI-driven automation to cybersecurity challenges and workforce…

Architect of Automation: A Master’s in Information Technology Management (ITM) or specific engineering degrees like Robotics, Mechatronics, or Computer Engineering are usually required to reach the esteemed professional milestone of being a “Architect of Automation”. The “Architect” designation is only given to individuals who have mastered the high-level orchestration of intricate, multi-layered systems, even if a bachelor’s degree offers the fundamental technical skills. An organization’s complete digital and physical “nervous system” is designed by the Architect of Automation, in contrast to a typical engineer who could concentrate on a particular script or machine.Strategic blueprinting defines the function. In the context of…

Mumbai: India has continued to report a dip for the third consecutive year in life insurance penetration which has declined to 2.7 per cent during 2024-25 from 2.8 per cent in the previous year according to the annual report of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India(IRDAI) released on Tuesday. The fall comes despite a 7 per cent increase in premium collections by life insurers to Rs 8.86 lakh crore for 2024-25.The penetration with respect to the non-life insurance industry remained flat at one per cent during 2024-25 as in 2023-24. The overall insurance penetration (life and non-life) remained flat…

While FOMO can lead to short-term gains, it also increases the risk of buying at market peaks and suffering losses when the bubble deflates.Is the Crypto Market Always in a Bubble?That’s certainly not true as while the “bubble” may be speculative in nature, there are still many actual uses for cryptocurrency that are being created and developed within the crypto ecosystem, such as digital identities/secure identity, decentralized finance-related transactions/payments, and so on. However, irrational exuberance (i.e., fear of missing out) can create spikes in prices of assets in the short term, leading to bubble-like circumstances, even in companies that are…

Asus is teasing a new Asus ROG dual-screen gaming laptop for CES 2026, with a set reveal time on January 5. The company’s ROG Global account posted a short video on X pointing to January 5 at 3 pm PT. It’s still just a teaser, so there’s no model name, no specs, and no pricing. What it does put on the table is the concept, which is a gaming notebook that looks built around more than one display. Asus is leaning into the second screen again The video sticks to quick, tight shots, but the framing suggests a main display…

ASTANA – Kazakhstan attracted $10.55 billion in investment in the first six months of the year, underscoring the country’s continued investment appeal despite ongoing geopolitical instability. Photo credit: Shutterstock In an interview with Kazinform, the experts outlined key trends, challenges and prospects shaping Kazakhstan’s investment landscape. Top investing countries and sectoral trends According to the National Bank of Kazakhstan, the largest sources of investment this year were the Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia, China, and the United Arab Emirates. The Netherlands accounted for $2.27 billion, reflecting its role as a financial hub for multinational corporations and holding companies. Much of this capital…

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations. Debt can prevent you from reaching your financial goals. It’s hard to save for a down payment on a home or other financial goal while juggling credit cards, student loan payments and bills from an unexpected event, such as a medical emergency. If you’re trying to tame the amount of money you owe, you may explore debt relief options to find the best fit for you. Money Management International, or MMI, is an organization that provides debt management education…

Apps to help you stay productive in 2026. Photo credit: Getty Images Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in Queens for more local events — or submit your own! As a new year unfolds, you might have a ton of ideas on how to start the year better and more focused, so you can be more productive. Whether you’d like to spend less time on social media or improve your work productivity, there are plenty of apps to incorporate into your daily routine to help you achieve your goals. From budgeting apps to tools to combat procrastination, here…

The semiconductor industry looks set for further gains thanks to the artificial intelligence boom.Top artificial intelligence (AI) developers like OpenAI and Anthropic continue to launch new models, with each one being “smarter” and more capable than the last. However, every new model also soaks up more computing power than its predecessors, so it requires significantly more data center capacity. Some of the biggest suppliers of AI infrastructure, chips, and components include Nvidia (NVDA 0.13%), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD 0.27%), and Micron Technology (MU +0.22%). Shares in those three companies have surged by an average of 119% in 2025 alone, crushing…

RealMan says its joint modules are modular, standardized, and provide high performance. | Source: RealMan Robotics RealMan Intelligent Technology Co. last week unveiled three new joint modules: the ultra-compact WHJ03, the high-torque hollow-core WHJ120, and the WHJ48V Wide-Voltage Series. The company said the new modules enable it to deliver a unified power system for robots ranging from lightweight desktop arms to heavy-duty industrial systems. The High-Power-Density (HPD) servo joints deliver high torque density, fast dynamic response, high precision, reliability, and cost efficiency, claimed RealMan. The three new modules feature compact, integrated, and modular designs for robotics across consumer, commercial, and…