By PYMNTS | July 22, 2026 In a move that signals a seismic shift in the global venture capital landscape and the trajectory of artificial intelligence, Travis Kalanick, the co-founder and former CEO of Uber, has officially unveiled his latest venture: Atoms. The company, which has emerged from stealth mode with a staggering $1.7 billion…
In a move that signals a seismic shift in how global capital traverses international borders, Augustus—a startup architecting a federally chartered clearing bank for the digital age—has secured $180 million in a Series B funding round. The investment catapults the company to a $1 billion valuation, officially bestowing "unicorn" status upon a firm that aims…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern commerce, no demographic is as influential, complex, or misunderstood as Generation Z. Comprising individuals born between 1997 and 2012, this cohort is moving from the periphery of market trends to the very center of global economic activity. With an estimated collective purchasing power of $360 billion, Gen Z…
By PYMNTS | July 19, 2026 In a significant move that underscores the ongoing consolidation and strategic restructuring of the global payments industry, ACI Worldwide is reportedly exploring a potential sale of its billing business. The development, first reported on July 17, 2026, signals a major shift for the electronic payment and banking solutions giant…
By PYMNTS July 19, 2026 The artificial intelligence hardware sector is witnessing a transformation so rapid that it is challenging traditional metrics of corporate valuation. Etched, a specialized AI chip startup, is currently in advanced discussions that could see its valuation soar to an eye-watering $20 billion. This development marks a significant escalation in the…
By PYMNTS | July 17, 2026 In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global financial technology sector, a consortium led by Stripe and private equity giant Advent International has formally placed a $53 billion takeover bid for PayPal Holdings Inc. The unsolicited offer, delivered on July 15, 2026, represents one of the most…
By PYMNTS | July 15, 2026 The global financial technology landscape stands at a potential inflection point today following reports that payment processing giant Stripe and private equity powerhouse Advent International have launched a joint bid to acquire PayPal Holdings. The unsolicited offer, which values the embattled payments pioneer at $60.50 per share, or roughly…
In a move that marks a definitive new chapter for Hawaii’s oldest and largest financial institution, Honolulu-based First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) has announced a definitive agreement to acquire TriCo Bancshares, the parent company of Tri Counties Bank, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $2 billion. This strategic pivot represents a bold return to the…
The landscape of digital commerce has undergone a seismic shift. In 2025, TikTok Shop—the integrated e-commerce engine powering the social media giant—surged to a staggering $64.3 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV), nearly doubling its output from the previous year. Of that total, the U.S. market accounted for $15.1 billion, fueled by a specific, high-conversion…
In a move that promises to intensify the ongoing battle over the future of digital asset regulation in the United States, a coalition of high-ranking Senate Democrats has formally requested congressional hearings into President Donald Trump’s extensive cryptocurrency holdings. The request follows the release of new financial disclosures revealing that the President’s crypto-related ventures generated…
