In this week’s Monily Scoop we talk about the massive $1.5 billion raised by 27 fintech deals, partnership between Standard Chartered and Dandelion, a massive news from PayPal and OpenAI, and Attara’s AI-driven hedging solution for SMEs.
The fintech sector experienced a strong surge in funding this week, with more than $1.5 billion raised across 27 deals worldwide. The record-breaking investment wave highlights renewed investor confidence in financial technology firms after months of restrained funding activity.
The week’s standout raises included AI-powered cybersecurity startup Chainguard, which secured around $400 million Series D round, and cross-border payment platform Nium that stood tall with a $300 million funding. Other significant deals involved companies such as Sierra, generative AI-startup that raised $350 million at a $10 billion valuation, and digital lender Upgrade which was valued at $7.3 billion.
North America led the funding volume with several large US rounds driving totals upward, while Europe and Asia also followed closely behind. Industry experts suggest that the momentum could carry into the final quarter of 2025.
Standard Chartered has announced a new partnership with cross-border payments platform, Dandelion to boost efficiency across its global network and improve international money transfers. The collaboration aims to leverage Dandelion’s payment infrastructure and Standard Chartered’s extensive global presence to deliver faster, more transparent, and cost-effective payment solutions for businesses and financial institutions worldwide.
Through this alliance, Standard Chartered will combine Dandelion’s technology to expand its payment corridors, supporting transactions across 130 currencies and 180 counties. The partnership is designed to simplify cross-border payments by enabling real-time settlement, improved tracking, and reduced operational complexity.
Representatives from both companies shared that the partnership has potential to reshape global payments. A Standard Chartered spokesperson said that the collaboration reflects on the banks commitment to “simplifying international transactions and driving financial inclusion through technology.”
Global payments provider PayPal has formed a strategic partnership with AI leader OpenAI to embed commerce capabilities into the population conversational platform ChatGPT. Through the adoption of OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol, PayPal will connect its extensive network of tens of millions of merchants to ChatGPT’s hundreds of millions of weekly users, enabling direct purchases without leaving the chat interface.
With the collaboration, individuals who discover products within ChatGPT will be able to complete transactions via their existing PayPal accounts, using flexible funding options such as bank transfers, PayPal, or linked cards.
On the merchant side, PayPal will deploy an ACP Server that simplifies integration by handling merchant-routing, payment validation, and transaction orchestration behind the scenes. As a result, small businesses and global brands alike can make their catalogues accessible in ChatGPT without building separate integrations.
The agreement highlights a major push into agentic commerce where AI platforms are not only helping users find what they need but also completing the transaction. As AI and payments continue to merge, this collaboration positions PayPal and OpenAI at the forefront of next-generation shopping experiences.
Fintech firm Attara has launched an AI-driven hedging solutions designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) manage foreign exchange (FX) and interest rate risk with better efficiency and precision. The new platform uses AI to simplify traditionally complex hedging strategies and provide real-time market insights to business owners.
According to a news report, the solution uses machine learning models to analyze market data and automatically recommend personalized risk management strategies for each client. The platform aims to bridge the gap between advanced financial tools used by larger companies and the growing need among SMEs for accessible, data-driven solutions.
“SMEs are increasingly exposed to global market volatility but lack the tools to manage it effectively,” said Alex Harding, CEO of Attara.
If you're an avid financial reader, a startup enthusiast, or a business professional looking to stay up to date with the latest happenings around the world and the US, this is where you get it all.
Our experts at Monily compile a weekly list of the most important reads from Fintech, business, and many more areas that will interest you.
So, come back again for Monily's weekly scoop next week. Till then if you wish to know more about what we do, click here!
INTERESTING FOR YOU
