FinTech 17 February 2026 - 10 March 2026

Mastercard Incorporated launches AI ‘Virtual CFO’ for small businesses in new push beyond payments
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Mastercard Incorporated launches AI ‘Virtual CFO’ for small businesses in new push beyond payments

Mastercard on Tuesday launched Virtual C-Suite, an AI product for small businesses starting with a Virtual CFO, to be distributed this year through banks and software providers. The company said the tool will use data from 175 billion transactions processed in 2025 to analyze performance and recommend actions. Mastercard shares fell 0.6% in afternoon New York trading; Visa dropped 0.3%.
March 10, 2026
Visa Inc launches AI payment tool as stablecoins and AI shopping reshape checkout
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Visa Inc launches AI payment tool as stablecoins and AI shopping reshape checkout

Visa launched a new payment-processing service on March 9, offering real-time machine learning analysis and 99.999% uptime, according to company data. The firm is integrating stablecoins into its systems, reporting a $4.5 billion annualized run rate, and expanding stablecoin-linked cards to over 100 countries by year-end. Visa’s first-quarter revenue rose to $10.9 billion as payment volume increased 8%. Stablecoin use at ordinary merchants remains limited.
March 10, 2026
Nu Holdings stock ticks up in premarket as Nubank heads into a big week
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Nu Holdings stock ticks up in premarket as Nubank heads into a big week

Nu Holdings’ U.S.-listed shares rose 0.3% to $16.82 in premarket trading Wednesday, while StoneCo fell 2.4% and MercadoLibre slipped 0.6%. Nu is set to report fourth-quarter results Feb. 25 after the close, with investors focused on loan losses and margins. The company recently received conditional OCC approval to form a U.S. national bank, pending further regulatory sign-off. In its last quarter, Nu posted $783 million net income and $4.2 billion revenue.
February 18, 2026
Bahrain FinTech Bay’s new AlloyX stablecoin pact lands as Japan fintech market is tipped to hit $32.6 billion
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Bahrain FinTech Bay’s new AlloyX stablecoin pact lands as Japan fintech market is tipped to hit $32.6 billion

AlloyX will partner with Bahrain FinTech Bay to develop regulated stablecoin applications, aiming for a launch pending regulatory approval. Bahrain’s central bank allows licensed issuers to offer single-currency, fiat-backed stablecoins under 2025 rules. IMARC Group projects Japan’s fintech market will more than triple by 2034 as digital payments expand.
February 17, 2026