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Archive · August 1, 2026

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Story 01

Lloyds and Caixabank Advance Tokenised Deposits with First Production-Grade Transactions in Project Agorá

Lloyds Banking Group and Caixabank executed three production-grade tokenised deposit transactions under Project Agorá, marking the first time such transactions have moved beyond pilot into live, regulated banking environments. This milestone demonstrates the practical integration of programmable money into core banking systems, enabling features like automated settlement and conditional payments. Major European banks such as Santander and ING are expected to accelerate their own tokenisation initiatives to keep pace with this shift.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Circle Gains NYDFS Trust Charter, Expanding USDC’s Institutional Appeal

Circle secured a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services, adding state-level regulatory oversight to USDC alongside federal supervision. This dual-layer compliance framework allows banks and asset managers to use USDC with greater confidence for payments and settlements, as it meets stricter risk and custody standards. Competing stablecoin issuers like Paxos and Gemini may now pursue similar charters to maintain access to regulated financial partners.

Source: The Block
№03

Mastercard and National Bank of Egypt Launch First USD Corporate Debit Card

Mastercard and the National Bank of Egypt introduced Egypt’s first USD corporate debit card, designed for businesses with international payment needs. This card enables Egyptian corporates to settle cross-border transactions directly in dollars, reducing reliance on currency conversion and streamlining global supplier payments. Regional competitors such as Banque Misr and QNB Alahli may introduce similar products to attract multinational clients.

Source: Finextra
№04

BNPL Fintech Cashea Raises $100 Million to Broaden Payments and Savings Offerings

Venezuelan BNPL provider Cashea raised $100 million to expand into payments and savings products, moving beyond installment financing. The funding will support Cashea’s entry into digital wallets and high-yield savings, targeting underbanked consumers in Latin America. Established fintechs like Mercado Pago and Nubank may see increased competition as Cashea diversifies its services.

Source: Finextra
№05

Chime Cuts 10% of Workforce, Automates Customer Support and Risk Operations

Chime will lay off 10% of its staff—about 150 employees—as it automates customer support and risk management functions using AI tools. These changes aim to reduce operational costs and allow Chime to reallocate resources toward product development in the competitive neobank sector. Digital banks such as Varo and Current may adopt similar automation strategies to improve efficiency.

Source: Banking Dive
The Long Memory
“The 1999 launch of the e-Check under the Check 21 Act enabled electronic check clearing, accelerating settlement times and paving the way for modern digital payment rails.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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