fintech Archives

Financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC demands an external auditor for Airwallex over AML/CTF concerns

Simon Thomsen - January 22, 2026 3 MIN READ

The Australian government’s financial system anti-crimes regulator, AUSTRAC, has called in an external auditor at Airwallex over concerns that the fintech unicorn has failed to properly comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws. AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas, said the external audits will assess serious compliance concerns by the regulator, which is charged with… Read more »

Business

From broke at 16 to billionaire: Airwallex CEO Jack Zhang says 2025 is the year his global fintech finally stopped ‘almost dying’

Simon Thomsen - December 10, 2025 5 MIN READ

The arc of a tech company’s success is often sprinkled with near death experiences. And according to Airwallex cofounder Jack Zhang, the business, which raised $498 million in a Series G this week, had so many lives in its first 10 years, it should probably be nicknamed “Catwallex”. London-based Zhang took to social media overnight… Read more »

Accelerator

Team Techstars Sydney: Fintech Our Leg Up wants a win/win solution to home ownership

Startup Daily - December 9, 2025 4 MIN READ

In celebration of TechStars Sydney’s ‘Demo the Future’ event, Startup Daily is profiling the 12 startups and their founders in the 2025 cohort. Next up: Our Leg Up – helping Australian homeowners turn their equity into income – while also giving buyers a boost onto the property ladder. Our Leg Up Founder: Michael Ragavan One… Read more »

Fintech

Airwallex jags a massive $498 million Series G as its valuation cranks up another 30%

Simon Thomsen - December 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

Melbourne-born fintech Airwallex has seen its valuation increase by 30% in just six months following a second raise for 2025 – US$330 million (A$498m) in a Series G. The round led by a new US VC investor Addition, supported by T. Rowe Price, Activant, Lingotto, TIAA Ventures, and Robinhood Ventures. Local VCs Square Peg –… Read more »

Business

Remittance fintech Bless Payments raises $3.75 million Seed round

Startup Daily - December 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

Perth fintech Bless Payments raised $3.75 million in Seed funding in mid-2025. The round, completed in July, was backed by billionaire Khalil (Charlie) Shahin and London’s Forte Securities, and was finally revealed as the global payments platform, which is hoping to take on incumbents such as Airwallex, Wise, Revolut and Monzo, looks to raise a… Read more »

Business

Pay.com.au hits $633 million valuation after $25 million raise

Startup Daily - November 24, 2025 2 MIN READ

Melbourne fintech pay.com.au has raised $25 million as it looks to head offshore and open in the US. The round was led by Morgans Corporate with support from Wilson Asset Management, Thorney Group, and Ophir. Another $28 million in existing shares also changed hands in a secondary sell-down. The deal valued the payments and rewards… Read more »

Climate Tech

CEFC backs Brighte with $40 million for cheaper home battery installation

Simon Thomsen - November 4, 2025 2 MIN READ

The federal government-backed Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is investing up to $40 million in household renewable energy fintech Brighte. The investment will share 2% off the cost of loans for home energy efficiency improvements, including solar and battery systems, energy-efficient heating and cooling, insulation, and EV chargers, with Brighte launching a new discounted green… Read more »

Business

Business banking unicorn Zeller heads offshore with UK launch

Simon Thomsen - October 3, 2025 2 MIN READ

Fintech Zeller is taking its business banking platform to the UK in its first international expansion. The fast-growing Melbourne unicorn has appointed former ByteDance executive Lars Weber as UK country manager and is looking to put 40 pairs of boots on the ground there over the next three years, with team members already recruited from… Read more »

ASX

ANZ bank has killed off its venture arm, 1835i

Simon Thomsen - October 1, 2025 2 MIN READ

Embattled bank ANZ has shut down its venture capital arm, 1835i, just three weeks after cashing in its chips in Airwallex – US$44 million ($A67m) stake sold to the fintech’s founders and executives. The writing was on the wall for the business, which still had 10 companies in its portfolio, when ANZ, under new CEO… Read more »

Fintech

Kiwi data fintech Wych raises NZ$1.5 million for open banking

Simon Thomsen - September 30, 2025 2 MIN READ

New Zealand fintech Wych has raised NZ $1.5 million (A$1.32m) to accelerate open banking delivery in New Zealand and Australia . The round was New Zealand FinTech Fund (NZFF) with participation from the NZX-listed Booster Innovation Fund (BIF) and other strategic investors. Wych provides secure, real-time financial information and data exchange to power the next generation… Read more »

Events

Intersekt 2025: 10 years of Australian fintech and what I learned at this year’s event

Jodie Imam - September 23, 2025 4 MIN READ

It’s been 10 years since the Australian Government formally prioritised fintech as a key growth sector — and a decade since FinTech Australia was formed to champion the industry. At Intersekt 2025, that milestone was front of mind. From the very first pre-event dinners on the Tuesday night, there was a palpable buzz of optimism… Read more »

Business

Fintech veteran Ezypay acquired by US payments firm Xplor

Simon Thomsen - September 19, 2025 < 1 MIN READ

One of Sydney’s OG fintechs, 29-year-old Ezypay, will be acquired by US software and payments firm Xplor Technologies. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Xplor has its own Australian links dating back to Melbourne entrepreneur Mark Woodland, who founded the startup in 2016, then sold it to TSG in 2019. It’s now based… Read more »

ASX

Dom Pym’s fintech fund, Triple Bubble, pairs up with CommBank’s VC arm, x15ventures

Simon Thomsen - September 18, 2025 2 MIN READ

Fintech entrepreneur and investor Dom Pym and his fintech-focused venture fund Triple Bubble have forged a strategic partnership Commonwealth Bank’s venture-scaling arm x15ventures to support and scale Australia’s financial technology ecosystem. The partnership includes an investment, exploration of new fintech opportunities using x15’s bank-safe venture stack, and the development of a mutual mentorship and talent exchange program… Read more »

Events

Fintech is now worth $22 billion to the Australian economy

Rehan D'Almeida - September 17, 2025 2 MIN READ

What makes fintech unique is that it operates both as a vertical and a horizontal sector. As a vertical, it is an industry with its own ecosystem, capital flows, and innovation pipeline. As a horizontal, it spans across and reshapes multiple sectors, from financial services to retail, real estate, health, and government, embedding financial technology… Read more »

Business

Fintech Cashrewards is kaput, leaving ANZ’s VC arm to write off $100 million

Simon Thomsen - September 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

ANZ-backed online shopping cashback platform Cashrewards has shut down. The company announced its demise on Monday afternoon with a notice saying “From 12pm AEST, Monday, 8 September 2025, Cashrewards ceased making offers available on its Website, App and Notifier.” Customers received an email around two hours after the shutdown, with the headline “URGENT: Cashrewards is… Read more »