Learning the friendly way

Avec l’essor des cryptomonnaies, leur adoption mondiale ne cesse de progresser. En 2021, la capitalisation totale du marché dépassait 3 000 milliards de dollars, les investissements institutionnels atteignaient des sommets, et des pays comme le Salvador reconnaissaient le Bitcoin comme monnaie légale.
Dans le même temps, les institutions financières intègrent les actifs numériques dans leurs bilans, tandis que les banques centrales explorent activement les monnaies numériques (CBDC).

Face à cette intégration croissante des cryptoactifs dans notre quotidien, il devient essentiel pour les entreprises de comprendre et d’exploiter cette technologie émergente.

Le Crypto as a Service, c’est quoi ?

Le Crypto as a Service (CaaS) est une solution en marque blanche, destinée aux entreprises et institutions financières souhaitant proposer des services liés aux cryptomonnaies à leurs clients.
CaaS, c’est en quelque sorte le “Banking as a Service”, mais appliqué aux monnaies numériques.

Cette solution plug-and-play permet à n’importe quelle entreprise, fintech, banque ou prestataire financier, d’offrir rapidement des services d’achat, de vente et de conservation de cryptoactifs à ses clients. L’expérience client reste totalement intégrée à la marque, sans intervention visible d’un prestataire externe.

CaaS peut aussi être intégré directement dans une application mobile, facilitant son déploiement dans de nombreux secteurs.

Quand on sait que la gestion d’actifs au Royaume-Uni représente à elle seule plus de 6 600 milliards de livres sterling, et que la valeur des sociétés cotées atteint près de 93 000 milliards de dollars, le potentiel du CaaS auprès des institutions traditionnelles est considérable.
Après le succès du Banking as a Service, tout indique que le Crypto as a Service suivra la même voie.

Comment fonctionne le CaaS ?

Le Crypto as a Service permet aux entreprises — banques digitales, fintechs, institutions financières — d’ouvrir de nouveaux canaux commerciaux en facilitant l’accès de leurs clients aux paiements en crypto et aux actifs numériques. Grâce à cette solution, les clients finaux peuvent :

• Acheter et vendre des cryptomonnaies
• Payer des biens et services avec leur portefeuille digital
• Stocker leurs cryptoactifs de façon sécurisée

De leur côté, les entreprises partenaires bénéficient :

• D’un système de gestion des risques et de surveillance des transactions conforme aux exigences réglementaires
• D’une interface utilisateur personnalisable, en marque blanche
• D’une prise en charge des aspects réglementaires tels que KYC/AML, traitement des ordres et conservation des actifs numériques

Le fournisseur de la solution CaaS prend en charge tous les aspects techniques et réglementaires adaptés à chaque marché (les exigences aux États-Unis diffèrent par exemple de celles au Royaume-Uni), garantissant une expérience sécurisée et conforme.

Résultat : les entreprises peuvent proposer des services crypto de manière fluide et intégrée à leur marque, sans expertise blockchain interne.

Qui peut utiliser le Crypto as a Service ?

Le CaaS s’adresse à toute entreprise souhaitant innover dans le domaine des paiements digitaux et proposer des services crypto :

• Banques centrales et fintechs souhaitant offrir des services d’achat, de paiement ou de stockage de cryptomonnaies
• Gestionnaires d’actifs et fonds de pension cherchant à accéder au marché crypto pour le compte de leurs clients
• Sociétés de transfert d’argent souhaitant réduire les coûts des paiements transfrontaliers
• Marques, e-commerçants et acteurs du gaming souhaitant accepter les paiements en crypto via des portefeuilles numériques

En somme, toute entreprise souhaitant moderniser ses services financiers et intégrer les actifs numériques dans son offre peut envisager le CaaS comme levier de développement.

Le service CaaS proposé par Tap

Chez Tap, nous proposons une solution CaaS fiable, simple à déployer et conforme aux normes réglementaires. Notre technologie plug-and-play permet aux entreprises d’intégrer rapidement les services crypto à leur infrastructure existante, sans expertise blockchain préalable.

Notre solution clé en main permet aux entreprises de proposer à leurs clients :

• L’achat, la vente et l’échange de cryptomonnaies
• Des paiements en crypto
• Un portefeuille crypto sécurisé avec possibilité de générer des rendements (wallet épargne crypto)

Là où créer une plateforme crypto peut prendre plusieurs années, notre service CaaS s’intègre en quelques semaines.

Tap détient également les agréments réglementaires nécessaires, ainsi qu’une couverture assurantielle adaptée, garantissant une conformité totale aux exigences en vigueur.

Avec notre service CaaS, votre entreprise peut se concentrer sur sa croissance, en laissant la gestion technique et réglementaire entre les mains d’experts.

Pour plus d’informations ou pour envisager l’intégration du Crypto as a Service dans votre activité, contactez-nous via cette page.

Conclusion

L’adoption généralisée des cryptomonnaies passe par des solutions simples, sécurisées et conformes.
Le Crypto as a Service ouvre la voie à cette démocratisation, en facilitant l’accès aux actifs numériques pour les entreprises et leurs clients.

Alors que les banques et institutions traditionnelles intègrent déjà les actifs numériques dans leur stratégie, CaaS représente une opportunité concrète d’accompagner cette transition et d’innover dans le secteur financier.

À condition de choisir un fournisseur fiable, avec une API intuitive et une conformité réglementaire rigoureuse, votre entreprise peut rapidement s’inscrire dans cette nouvelle dynamique.

Les cryptomonnaies sont là pour rester. Avec le CaaS, elles deviennent accessibles à tous.

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Welcome to Tap’s weekly crypto market recap. 

Here are the biggest stories from last week (8 - 14 July).

💥 Bitcoin breaks new ATH

Bitcoin officially hit above $122,000 marking its first record since May and pushing total 2025 gains to around +20% YTD. The rally was driven by heavy inflows into U.S. spot ETFs, over $218m into BTC and $211m into ETH in a single day, while nearly all top 100 coins turned green.

Read more

📌 Trump Media files for “Crypto Blue‑Chip ETF”

Trump Media & Technology Group has submitted an S‑1 to the SEC for a new “Crypto Blue Chip ETF” focused primarily on BTC (70%), ETH (15%), SOL (8%), XRP (5%), and CRO (2%), marking its third crypto ETF push this year. 

A major political/media player launching a multi-asset crypto fund signals growing mainstream and institutional acceptance, and sparks fresh conflict-of-interest questions. We’ll keep you updated.

Read more.

🌍 Pakistan launches CBDC pilot & virtual‑asset regulation

The State Bank of Pakistan has initiated a pilot for a central bank digital currency and is finalising virtual-asset laws, with Binance CEO CZ advising government efforts. With inflation at just 3.2% and rising foreign reserves (~$14.5b), Pakistan is embracing fintech ahead of emerging-market peers like India.

Read more.

🛫 Emirates Airline to accept crypto payments

Dubai’s Emirates signed a preliminary partnership with Crypto.com to enable crypto payments starting in 2026, deepening the Gulf’s commitment to crypto-friendly infrastructure.

*Not to take away from the adoption excitement, but you can book Emirates flights with your Tap card, using whichever crypto you like. 

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Read more..

🏛️ U.S. declares next week “Crypto Week”

House Republicans have designated 14-18 July as “Crypto Week,” aiming for votes on GENIUS (stablecoin oversight), CLARITY (jurisdiction clarity), and Anti‑CBDC bills. The idea is that these bills could reshape how U.S. defines crypto regulation and limit federal CBDC initiatives under Trump-aligned priorities.

Read more. 

Stay tuned for next week’s instalment, delivered on Monday mornings.

Vous avez sûrement déjà entendu parler de ChatGPT – cet assistant IA qui revient dans toutes les conversations autour de la productivité et de la technologie. Et honnêtement ? Il est à la hauteur de sa réputation.
Imaginez un ami très intelligent, disponible à tout moment : que ce soit pour vous aider sur un projet de travail, rédiger un e-mail, ou satisfaire une curiosité soudaine à 23h.

Mais voilà ce qu’on ne vous dit pas toujours au départ : toutes les formules de ChatGPT ne se valent pas. Il y a une vraie différence entre la version gratuite (pratique mais parfois limitée) et les formules payantes (plus rapides, plus puissantes, plus stables).

Que vous soyez étudiant au budget serré ou professionnel à la recherche d’un vrai outil de productivité, comprendre ces différentes formules peut vous aider à choisir celle qui correspond à vos besoins.

Les formules ChatGPT en détail (2025)

Décryptons ce que chaque plan propose, et ce que vous obtenez réellement.

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✅ Formule gratuite

Tarif : 0 $
Fonctionnalités :

• Accès à GPT-4o mini
• Accès limité à GPT-4o
• Mode vocal standard
• Téléchargement de fichiers
• Génération d’images
• Navigation web
• Analyse avancée de données

Pour qui ?
Parfait pour découvrir l’outil sans engagement. Une bonne façon de tester ce que ChatGPT peut faire, même si certaines fonctions sont limitées.

✅ Formule Plus

Tarif : 20 $ / mois
Fonctionnalités :

• Jusqu’à 80 messages par tranche de 3 heures
• Accès prioritaire à GPT-4o
• Réponses plus rapides
• Mode vocal avancé
• Accès anticipé aux nouvelles fonctionnalités
• Création de GPT personnalisés

Pour qui ?
Idéal pour les indépendants, étudiants ou pros qui utilisent l’IA régulièrement. Cette formule transforme ChatGPT en assistant de travail fiable, disponible et performant.

✅ Formule Team

Tarif : 30 $ / utilisateur / mois ou 25 $ avec engagement annuel
Fonctionnalités :

• Tout ce qui est inclus dans Plus
• Collaboration entre 2 utilisateurs ou plus
• Espace de travail partagé
• Données privées (non utilisées pour l'entraînement)
• Contrôle administrateur et suivi d’utilisation
• GPT personnalisés pour l’équipe

Pour qui ?
Conçue pour les petites équipes ou startups qui veulent travailler ensemble sur des projets IA tout en gardant un cadre sécurisé et organisé.

✅ Formule Pro

Tarif : 200 $ / mois / utilisateur
Fonctionnalités :

• Accès illimité à GPT-4o
• Raisonnement avancé
• Performances de niveau recherche
• Ressources de calcul premium
• Toutes les fonctionnalités précédentes

Pour qui ?
Destinée aux utilisateurs intensifs : chercheurs, développeurs, ingénieurs. Si vous utilisez l’IA comme outil principal au quotidien, cette formule offre un accès sans limites aux capacités les plus avancées.

✅ Formule Enterprise

Tarif : à partir de 60 $ / utilisateur / mois (minimum 150 utilisateurs sur 12 mois)
Fonctionnalités :

• Confidentialité et sécurité renforcées
• Connexions avec les outils internes (Drive, SharePoint, GitHub…)
• Déploiement sur mesure
• Contrôles d’accès avancés
• Support dédié
• Limites personnalisées

Pour qui ?
Pensée pour les grandes entreprises qui souhaitent intégrer l’IA à leur infrastructure tout en respectant les standards de conformité et de sécurité.

Quelle formule choisir ?

Choisir une formule, c’est un peu comme choisir un forfait mobile : vous voulez les bonnes options, sans payer pour ce dont vous n’avez pas besoin.

• Étudiants
  Commencez avec la version gratuite. Elle suffit pour la recherche, l’aide à la rédaction, ou les révisions. Si vous constatez des limites fréquentes, la formule Plus peut offrir plus de fluidité pendant les périodes chargées.
• Freelances et pros en solo
  La formule Plus (20 $/mois) est souvent le meilleur compromis. Que vous soyez créateur de contenu, consultant ou entrepreneur, vous avez accès à des fonctionnalités stables et performantes.
• Développeurs et profils techniques
  Plus fonctionne pour un usage ponctuel. Pour les projets intensifs ou la génération de code à grande échelle, la formule Pro permet de travailler sans interruption.
• Petites équipes et startups
  Team (25-30 $/utilisateur) apporte un vrai cadre de travail collaboratif avec la sécurité en prime. Idéal pour les équipes de 2 à 10 personnes.
• Grandes entreprises
  Enterprise, avec son déploiement personnalisé, permet une intégration complète de l’IA dans les process métiers tout en respectant les exigences internes.

Points à connaître : limites et coûts cachés

Avant de vous lancer, quelques éléments importants à garder en tête :

✅ Usage de l’API

Si vous créez des applis qui utilisent l’API de ChatGPT, le tarif est indépendant des plans ci-dessus. Il est calculé par jeton (par ex. GPT-4 : 0,012 $/jetons de prompt, 0,024 $/jetons de réponse), auxquels s’ajoutent souvent des coûts de serveur ou d’optimisation.

✅ Limitations de messages

Même les formules payantes ont des plafonds. La version gratuite est assez limitée. La formule Plus élargit ces capacités mais n’est pas illimitée. Si vous êtes un utilisateur très actif, ces limites peuvent se faire sentir.

✅ Accès différé à certaines fonctionnalités

Les nouveautés arrivent d’abord pour les abonnés Plus, Pro ou Enterprise. Les utilisateurs de la version gratuite doivent parfois attendre plusieurs mois.

✅ Restrictions sur les fichiers

Même si les uploads sont autorisés, la taille et la complexité des fichiers peuvent poser problème selon les cas d’usage.

Et les alternatives à ChatGPT ?

ChatGPT est top, mais ce n’est pas le seul dans la course. Voici quelques alternatives intéressantes :

• Claude AI (Anthropic)
  Tarifs : version gratuite + Pro à 20 $/mois
  Atouts : très bon pour l’analyse, longues fenêtres de contexte
  Idéal pour : ceux qui travaillent sur des documents longs ou complexes
• Perplexity AI
  Tarifs : gratuit + Pro à 20 $/mois
  Atouts : recherches web intégrées, sources citées
  Idéal pour : utilisateurs orientés recherche et vérification de sources
• DeepSeek
  Tarifs : version gratuite + plans individuels (20–50 $/mois) et offres pro sur devis
  Atouts : bonnes performances à coût réduit
  Idéal pour : ceux qui veulent une alternative solide à prix modéré
• Google Gemini
  Tarifs : version gratuite + AI Premium via Google One (20 $/mois)
  Atouts : intégration poussée à l’écosystème Google
  Idéal pour : utilisateurs déjà investis dans les outils Google

Conclusion : ChatGPT vaut-il son prix en 2025 ?

Tout dépend de l’usage que vous en faites.

• Si vous l’utilisez occasionnellement, la version gratuite est déjà très capable.
• Si vous y revenez chaque jour pour le travail, la formule Plus à 20 $ est vite rentabilisée.
• Pour les équipes, les offres Team et Enterprise permettent de structurer les usages et de professionnaliser les outils.

Bonne nouvelle : vous n’avez pas besoin de tout décider aujourd’hui. Essayez les versions gratuites de ChatGPT, Claude ou Perplexity, et voyez celle qui colle le mieux à votre style de travail. Ensuite, passez à la vitesse supérieure quand vous êtes prêt.

L’intelligence artificielle devient peu à peu aussi essentielle que l’e-mail ou Google Docs. La question n’est plus “si” vous allez l’utiliser, mais “comment” et “avec quoi”.

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The financial revolution isn't happening in Wall Street's landmark buildings, it's exploding through smartphone screens in rural villages, urban apartments, and immigrant communities worldwide. And while traditional banks still ask for three forms of ID and a pristine credit score, fintech is rewriting the rules of who gets to participate in the global economy.

Here's the reality: 1.4 billion adults globally remain unbanked, locked out of basic financial services that most of us take for granted. In the U.S. alone, roughly 5.4% of households (about 5.6 million families) have no relationship with a bank or credit union. These aren't just statistics; they're people paying check-cashing fees, carrying cash everywhere, and building zero credit history despite working multiple jobs.

But here's where it gets interesting: fintech isn't just offering band-aid solutions. It's fundamentally disrupting how financial services work, creating pathways to economic participation that bypass traditional gatekeepers entirely. 

From mobile banking apps that require no minimum balance to blockchain-based lending that ignores credit scores, technology is democratising finance in ways that seemed impossible just a decade ago.

The question isn't whether fintech can help the unbanked, it's already happening. The real question is how fast this transformation can scale and whether it can reach the communities that need it most. 

Why so many people remain unbanked

Let's dive into the barriers that keep millions locked out of traditional banking. It's not just about money, though, of course, that’s a part of it.

The most obvious culprit? Banks themselves. Traditional institutions have built their entire business model around risk assessment, which typically means credit scores, employment verification, and documentation requirements that exclude huge swaths of the population. 

If you're an immigrant without an established credit history, a gig worker with irregular income, or someone who's been burned by predatory lending in the past, good luck getting a simple checking account with credit facilities.

Geographic accessibility plays a massive role, too. Rural communities have watched bank branches disappear at an alarming rate: since 2009, over 10,000 bank branches have closed across the UK. When the nearest bank is 50 miles away and you're working two jobs just to stay afloat, maintaining a traditional banking relationship becomes practically impossible.

Then there's the trust factor. Many unbanked individuals come from communities where banks have historically been extractive rather than supportive. Why would you trust an institution that charges overdraft fees designed to trap you in cycles of debt? For many, cash-only transactions feel safer and more transparent than navigating hidden fees and complex terms of service.

Digital literacy creates another layer of exclusion. While fintech promises mobile-first solutions, those solutions still require smartphone access, internet connectivity, and the technical knowledge to navigate increasingly complex apps. For older adults or those without consistent internet access, digital banking can feel more like a barrier than a bridge.

The demographic impact tells the whole story: immigrants, young adults building their first financial identity, gig workers whose income doesn't fit traditional employment models, and rural populations where infrastructure lags behind urban centres. These aren't fringe communities, they represent the fastest-growing segments of the workforce.

Traditional banking's limitations

Here's the uncomfortable truth about traditional banking: it was designed for a different era, when employment was stable, credit histories were linear, and financial relationships lasted decades. Today's economy doesn't work that way, but banks haven't caught up.

The FICO credit scoring system perfectly exemplifies this disconnect. Created in 1989, it treats credit like a single number that defines your financial worth, ignoring factors like consistent rent payments, utility bill history, or mobile phone payment patterns. If you've never had a credit card or traditional loan, you're effectively invisible to the system that determines whether you can access basic financial services. 

Fee structures reveal even deeper problems. The average overdraft fee has climbed to $35, while monthly maintenance fees can easily cost $200+ annually for basic checking accounts. 

For someone living paycheck to paycheck, these fees aren't just inconvenient, they can be financially devastating. Banks profit billions annually from overdraft fees alone, creating perverse incentives to trap rather than support their most vulnerable customers.

Bureaucracy adds another layer of exclusion. Opening a bank account requires documentation that many people simply don't have readily available: proof of address, employment verification, Social Security numbers, and often a minimum deposit. For undocumented immigrants, frequent movers, or those between jobs, these requirements create insurmountable barriers.

Traditional banks also struggle with personalisation at scale. They're built to serve middle-class customers with predictable income patterns, not gig workers whose earnings fluctuate wildly or small business owners who need flexible lending options. The result? Financial products that don't match real-world financial lives.

How fintech is changing the game

Sure, fintech isn’t a cure-all, but it is revolutionising finance by flipping the model: instead of forcing people to fit outdated systems, it builds systems that fit how people actually live and work.

Mobile banking & digital wallets

Mobile banking apps like Chime, Venmo, and Cash App have obliterated traditional barriers to entry. Chime offers fee-free banking with no minimum balance requirements and early direct deposit features that get workers paid up to two days faster than traditional banks. 

That might not sound revolutionary until you realise that for someone living paycheck to paycheck, getting paid two days early can mean the difference between making rent on time or facing late fees.

Venmo transformed peer-to-peer payments from a complicated wire transfer process into something as simple as sending a text message. Cash App went further, adding investing features, Bitcoin purchases, and small business payment processing to a single app that anyone can download for free.

Increasingly, platforms like Tap are also stepping in - not just as digital wallets, but as integrated ecosystems that combine spending, saving, and cross-border access for underserved users. These aren't just simplified versions of traditional banking, they're entirely different approaches that prioritise accessibility and user experience over profit maximisation through fees and complexity.

Peer-to-peer lending & credit building

The lending revolution is even more dramatic. Platforms like Avant, Earnest, and newer crypto-lending protocols are using alternative data sources and AI-driven risk assessment to make lending decisions that traditional banks couldn't even consider.

Instead of relying solely on FICO scores, these platforms analyse everything from social media activity to mobile phone payment patterns to assess creditworthiness. They're building credit profiles for people who were previously invisible to the traditional system, creating pathways to financial growth that didn't exist before.

Peer-to-peer lending removes banks from the equation entirely, connecting borrowers directly with individual lenders or pools of capital. This creates more competitive interest rates and more flexible terms, especially for borrowers who don't fit traditional risk profiles.

Micro-investment & wealth-building tools

Investment platforms like Robinhood, Acorns, and international players like Nutmeg have democratised wealth building by eliminating minimum investment requirements and complex fee structures. Acorns rounds up everyday purchases and invests the spare change, allowing people to build investment portfolios with literally pennies.

These platforms reimagine what investing looks like for people who aren't already wealthy. Educational resources, simplified interfaces, and fractional share ownership mean that someone making minimum wage can start building long-term wealth with the same tools previously only reserved for high-net-worth individuals.

DeFi & blockchain for financial access

Decentralised finance represents the most radical reimagining of financial services yet. Ethereum-based platforms allow people to lend, borrow, and earn interest without any traditional financial institution involvement. Smart contracts automatically execute financial agreements, eliminating the need for banks, credit checks, or geographical restrictions.

Crypto wallets provide financial services to anyone with a smartphone and internet connection, regardless of their documentation status, credit history, or location. While still nascent and volatile, DeFi protocols are processing billions in transactions and proving that alternative financial systems can operate at scale.

Benefits fintech brings to the unbanked

The advantages aren't just theoretical, they're transforming lives in measurable ways.

Accessibility leads the list. 

Fintech services operate 24/7 from any smartphone, eliminating the geographical and temporal constraints that keep people away from traditional banks. Someone working night shifts or multiple jobs can manage their finances during a break, not during banking hours that conflict with their work schedule.

Affordability follows closely. 

Most fintech platforms operate with dramatically lower overhead costs than traditional banks, allowing them to offer services with minimal or no fees. When you're not paying for physical branches, armies of tellers, and legacy IT systems, you can pass those savings to customers who need them most.

Speed transforms financial emergency management. 

Traditional loan applications can take weeks while fintech platforms often provide decisions in minutes. When your car breaks down and you need to get to work tomorrow, that speed difference isn't convenience - it's survival.

Transparency.  Transparency. Transparency. 

Fintech apps typically show real-time transaction data, clear fee structures, and straightforward terms of service. No more surprise fees or hidden charges that drain accounts without warning.

Using data instead of old patterns.

Data-driven personalisation means financial products that actually match individual circumstances. Instead of one-size-fits-all banking products, AI-powered platforms can offer customised solutions based on spending patterns, income volatility, and financial goals.

Safety from the loan sharks. 

Perhaps most importantly, fintech reduces exposure to predatory lending practices. Transparent algorithms and competitive marketplaces make it harder for bad actors to exploit vulnerable populations with payday loans and other extractive financial products.

Case studies & real-world applications

The real proof lies in how these technologies are working in practice across different communities and regions.

U.S. gig workers have embraced fintech payroll advances and flexible banking solutions. Uber and Lyft drivers use apps like Earnin to access their earnings before payday, eliminating the need for expensive payday loans. 

DoorDash partnered with DasherDirect to offer delivery workers immediate access to their earnings plus cashback rewards on gas purchases = financial services designed specifically for the gig economy.

Africa's mobile money revolution provides the most compelling example of fintech leapfrogging traditional banking infrastructure. M-Pesa in Kenya processes more transactions annually than Western Union globally, allowing people to send money, pay bills, and access microloans through basic mobile phones. 

Over 80% of Kenyan adults now use mobile money services, creating a more financially inclusive society than many developed nations.

Latin America's neobank adoption is exploding as traditional banks struggle to serve growing populations. Brazil's Nubank has over 70 million customers, offering fee-free banking and credit building to people previously excluded from traditional financial services. 

Mexico's Clip provides small business payment processing to street vendors and micro-entrepreneurs who couldn't access traditional merchant services.

These aren't isolated success stories: they're proof of concept for global financial inclusion through technology.

Barriers fintech still faces

Despite the revolutionary potential, significant obstacles remain.

Digital literacy and smartphone access create fundamental barriers. While smartphone penetration continues growing globally, reliable internet connectivity and the technical skills needed to navigate financial apps remain unevenly distributed. Older adults and rural populations often struggle with interfaces designed by young urban developers.

Regulatory hurdles complicate expansion and innovation. Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance requirements, anti-money laundering regulations, and licensing requirements vary dramatically across jurisdictions, making it difficult for fintech companies to scale globally. Regulatory uncertainty around crypto and DeFi creates additional complications for even the most innovative solutions.

Infrastructure gaps in developing regions limit fintech's reach. While mobile money works well in areas with basic cellular coverage, more sophisticated fintech services require robust internet infrastructure that many rural and low-income areas still lack.

Crypto and DeFi adoption scepticism remains high, particularly among the very populations these technologies could most benefit. Volatility concerns, complexity, and association with scams and fraud make many potential users hesitant to embrace blockchain-based financial services.

Cultural barriers also persist. In communities where cash has been king for generations, shifting to digital-first financial services requires not just technological adoption but cultural change. Trust must be earned through consistent, reliable service over time.

What the future holds: innovations & inclusion

The next wave of fintech innovation promises even more dramatic transformation.

Artificial intelligence will enable hyper-personalised financial services that adapt in real-time to individual circumstances. AI-powered financial advisors will provide wealth management services previously available only to millionaires, while machine learning algorithms will create more accurate and inclusive credit assessment models.

Open banking regulations will force traditional financial institutions to share customer data with fintech competitors, accelerating innovation and competition. This means better services, lower costs, and more options for consumers who have been underserved by traditional banks.

Regulatory evolution will create clearer frameworks for fintech innovation while protecting consumers. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) may provide government-backed alternatives to both traditional banking and cryptocurrencies, potentially reaching populations that current solutions miss.

Blockchain-based financial identity systems could eliminate documentation barriers that currently exclude millions from financial services. Decentralised identity solutions would allow people to build financial reputations independent of traditional credit systems or government documentation.

The convergence of fintech with other technologies (Internet of Things sensors for supply chain financing, augmented reality for financial education, 5G networks for real-time global payments) will likely create financial services we can barely imagine today.

Conclusion

Fintech isn't just disrupting traditional banking: it's democratising economic participation on a global scale. 

From mobile money transforming African economies to gig worker payment solutions in American cities, technology is proving that financial inclusion isn't just morally right, it's economically inevitable.

However, the transformation isn't complete, and significant barriers still remain. But the trajectory is clear: financial services are becoming more accessible, affordable, and aligned with how people actually live and work in the 21st century.

The most exciting developments will emerge from collaboration between fintech innovators, government regulators, and community organisations that understand local needs.

This isn't a zero-sum game between technology and tradition—it's an opportunity to build financial systems that serve everyone, not just those who were lucky enough to be born into existing networks of economic privilege.

The unbanked aren't waiting for permission to participate in the global economy. They're already using whatever tools they can access to build financial stability and opportunity. Fintech's job is to make sure those tools are powerful, accessible, and designed with their real needs in mind.

The financial revolution is happening whether traditional institutions join it or not. The question is whether we'll build a system that includes everyone or leaves millions behind. The technology exists. The demand is obvious. Now it's up to us to make financial inclusion a reality, not just a promise.

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Remember when crypto was just about pizza?

In 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoin for two Papa John's pizzas, a transaction now worth over $1 billion. Gut punch aside, crypto enthusiasts celebrate this first real-world integration every 22 May as "Bitcoin Pizza Day." 

Back then, the entire crypto ecosystem could fit into a few obscure forums where libertarian idealists and coding cowboys traded digital tokens like baseball cards, convinced they were building the future from their basements. In hindsight, they were. 

Fast forward to today, and that scrappy subculture has evolved into something unrecognisable from its meme-driven origins. Nike is dropping NFT sneakers. Major banks hold crypto assets. Entire countries are experimenting with digital currencies. The rebellious energy that once fueled late-night Discord raids and "diamond hands" memes has crystallised into legitimate businesses, governance protocols, and entirely new economic models.

But here's what's fascinating: crypto didn't just grow up by abandoning its roots, it’s matured by doubling down on them. The community-first mentality that built Bitcoin is now reshaping how we think about ownership, identity, and value creation in the digital age.

This isn't a story about crypto going mainstream by becoming boring. It's about a culture that learned to channel its revolutionary spirit into building the infrastructure for tomorrow's economy, while somehow keeping its irreverent soul intact. 

IYKYK

From meme coins to maturity: the evolution of crypto culture

Remember the early days of crypto culture, where things were gloriously chaotic? A community united by shared jokes about "HODLing" (born from a drunken misspelling of "hold"), treating every market crash as a buying opportunity, and genuinely believing that traditional finance was destined for the dustbin of history. The culture was equal parts utopian manifesto and internet meme factory.

And it wasn't just rebellious posturing, it was the emergence of genuinely new social norms. 

Crypto communities developed their own language (think "WAGMI," "ape in," "moon"), their own heroes (Satoshi's mysterious disappearance became legendary), and their own values centred around decentralisation, permissionless innovation, and radical transparency. Forums like BitcoinTalk and subreddits became digital town squares where code was law and reputation was earned through contribution, not credentials.

But cultures mature through adversity, and crypto has weathered some brutal winters. The 2018 crash wiped out over 80% of the market's value. The 2022 collapse saw major players like FTX implode spectacularly. 

Each crisis forced the community to evolve, weeding out pure speculation while strengthening the foundations of legitimate innovation. The survivors weren't just the hodlers; they were the builders who kept shipping code through bear markets.

What emerged from these trials and tribulations was a culture that kept its revolutionary energy but channelled it more strategically. 

The meme coins didn't disappear, they just became one flavour in a much richer ecosystem. Fast forward to today, where crypto culture balances its anti-establishment DNA with the practical work of building alternatives to the systems it once merely criticised.

Why the crypto ecosystem is no longer just a subculture

Somewhere between the pizza transactions and the present day, crypto stopped being a niche hobby and became infrastructure. Real estate transactions are settling on blockchain networks. Identity verification happens through decentralised protocols. Entire financial systems run on code that anyone can audit, and no single entity controls.

The rise of Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) exemplifies this maturation. 

What started as an experimental governance model has evolved into a practical tool for coordinating everything from investment funds to open-source software development. DAOs like Uniswap and Compound manage billions in assets through community governance, hushing the haters and proving that decentralised decision-making can work at scale.

Meanwhile, DeFi has created a parallel financial infrastructure that operates 24/7, serves global users without permission, and offers yields that traditional banks can't match. Creator economies have exploded as artists, musicians, and content creators tokenise their work and build direct relationships with their audiences. These aren't experiments anymore, they're functioning businesses generating real revenue and solving real problems.

Perhaps most tellingly, regulatory frameworks are finally catching up. When governments start creating clear rules for an industry, that's usually a sign it's moved beyond the experimental phase. 

The role of Web3 in shaping new digital identities

Let’s shine a light on Web3 - no longer just a “technical upgrade,” but now a fundamental shift in how people relate to their digital lives. For the first time in internet history, users can truly own their online identities, content, and social connections. While, admittedly, it’s still in its early stages, it's still creating new economic opportunities for millions of people.

Gamers are leading the charge in another direction, earning real income through play-to-earn games and trading in-game assets as NFTs. What seems like fun and games is actually a new form of digital labour, with some players in developing countries earning more from virtual economies than traditional jobs provide. 

However you feel about Web3, you cannot deny that the cultural shift here is profound: digital activities that were once purely recreational are becoming legitimate career paths.

Investing beyond the hype: what smart money looks like now

Thankfully, the days of throwing money at anything with "coin" in the name are largely over. Today's sophisticated crypto investors approach the space with the same rigour they'd apply to any emerging technology sector, which is to say, a lot more rigour than the early "number go up" mentality.

Modern crypto investing focuses heavily on tokenomics: the economic design of how tokens are created, distributed, and used within their ecosystems. Smart investors analyse token supply schedules, utility functions, governance mechanisms, and community incentive structures. They're looking for projects that create genuine value, not just speculative buzz.

Due diligence now includes evaluating team credentials, technology innovation, product-market fit, and regulatory compliance. The most successful crypto investors today often have backgrounds in traditional venture capital or technology, bringing institutional-grade analysis to a previously amateur-dominated space. 

They're backing teams building long-term infrastructure, not chasing the latest meme coin pump.

This maturation has also created new investment categories. There's now a clear distinction between speculative trading, strategic token investments, and equity stakes in crypto companies. Even institutional players like pension funds and endowments are entering the space through regulated products, bringing both capital and credibility.

The cultural shift is striking: crypto conferences now feature more suit-wearing fund managers than hoodie-wearing day traders. But the underlying belief in decentralised systems remains strong - it's just being expressed through more sophisticated financial instruments.

Community, governance, and cultural legitimacy

Consider this: crypto's greatest innovation might not be technical, it might be social. 

The ecosystem has pioneered new models of community organisation that traditional institutions are now studying and adopting. 

• Discord servers with hundreds of thousands of members coordinate global initiatives. 
• GitHub repositories with contributors from every continent build open-source infrastructure. 
• Governance tokens give stakeholders direct voting power on protocol decisions.

This community-first approach has proven remarkably resilient. When centralised exchanges fail or regulations threaten specific projects, the decentralised nature of crypto communities allows them to adapt and continue building. The culture's emphasis on transparency, open-source development, and collective ownership creates natural resistance to single points of failure.

Cultural legitimacy has arrived through an unexpected channel: brand adoption. When Nike launches NFT collections, Budweiser buys Ethereum domain names, and H&M experiments with blockchain supply chains, it signals that crypto has moved from counterculture to culture. 

These aren't tech companies hedging their bets: they're traditional brands recognising that their customers expect digital ownership options.

So, what's next for crypto culture?

The next wave is already building. Real-world assets (from rental properties to intellectual property) will trade as tokens around the clock. Gen Z, raised on digital scarcity and creator economies, will make crypto-first living the norm.

Challenges remain: regulation, interoperability, and sustainability. But crypto culture thrives on adversity, turning every crisis into an upgrade opportunity.

The culture that started with a Papa John’s purchase has fundamentally rewired how we think about money, ownership, and coordination. This isn't just growing up, it's growing into the foundation of tomorrow's economy.

And somewhere, Laszlo Hanyecz is probably still enjoying pizza, though he's probably paying with dollars these days.

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Euro Tether (EURT) is a euro-pegged stablecoin created by Tether Operations Limited, designed to maintain a 1:1 value with the euro. Think of it as the European cousin of the more famous USDT (Tether USD) - it's a digital token that aims to hold steady at one euro per token, making it useful for businesses, or just people who want to use crypto without worrying about wild price swings.

Built primarily on the Ethereum blockchain, EURT was developed to give European users and businesses a stable digital asset that mirrors the euro's value. However, there's an important twist to this story: Tether announced in November 2024 that EURT would be discontinued, with a redemption deadline of 27 November 2025, due to regulatory challenges in Europe and the implementation of the EU's MiCA regulations.

Who created EURT and why?

EURT comes from Tether Operations Limited, the same company behind USDT, which is currently the world's largest stablecoin by market cap, and a major player in the stablecoin space since 2014.

The reasoning behind creating EURT was straightforward: while USDT served dollar-based users well, there was a clear need for a euro-denominated stablecoin. European businesses, traders, and crypto users wanted a way to:

• Hold digital assets without exposure to crypto volatility
• Make fast, borderless payments in euros
• Access decentralised finance (DeFi) applications with euro-based assets
• Trade cryptocurrencies while maintaining euro exposure

Think of it like having a digital euro that could move as quickly as an email, without needing traditional banking infrastructure for every transaction.

How does EURT work?

EURT operates on a relatively simple principle that's common among centralised stablecoins. Here's how the process works:

Minting new EURT: When someone wants to create new EURT tokens, they deposit euros with Tether. In return, Tether mints (creates) an equivalent amount of EURT tokens. It's like exchanging physical euros for digital IOUs that can be used in the crypto world.

Burning EURT: When users want to redeem their EURT for actual euros, they send their tokens back to Tether. The company then "burns" (destroys) those tokens and returns the equivalent euros to the user's bank account.

Maintaining the Peg: Tether claims to hold euro reserves equal to the number of EURT tokens in circulation. This 1:1 backing is what's supposed to keep each EURT worth exactly one euro. If demand increases, more tokens are minted. If demand decreases, tokens are burned.

EURT primarily operates on Ethereum, but it has also been available on other blockchains like Solana and Binance Smart Chain, depending on user demand and technical considerations.

What was EURT used for?

Before its discontinuation announcement, EURT served several practical purposes in the crypto ecosystem:

Trading and avoiding volatility

Traders used EURT as a stable store of value when they wanted to exit volatile crypto positions without converting back to traditional banking systems. It’s like having a safe harbour during crypto storms.

Cross-border payments

EURT enabled fast, relatively cheap international transfers in euros. Instead of using traditional wire transfers, which can take days and incur significant fees, users can send EURT tokens across borders in minutes.

DeFi applications

EURT found a familiar home on DeFi platforms, used for lending, borrowing, and yield farming activities. Users could earn interest on their euro holdings or use EURT as collateral for loans.

Business operations

Some European businesses accepted EURT for payments or used it for treasury management, especially those already comfortable with crypto operations.

Why is EURT being discontinued?

This is where the story takes an interesting turn. On 27 November 2024, Tether announced that EURT would be phased out, with all tokens needing to be redeemed by 27 November 2025.

The primary reason? Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into effect in 2024. MiCA requires stablecoin issuers operating in the EU to meet strict compliance standards, including:

• Detailed regulatory reporting
• Specific reserve requirements
• Ongoing supervision by EU authorities
• Substantial compliance infrastructure

For Tether, the cost-benefit analysis didn't add up. EURT had a relatively small market capitalisation of around $27 million at the time of discontinuation, tiny compared to USDT's market cap of over $100 billion. The regulatory compliance costs and operational complexity of meeting MiCA requirements weren't justified by EURT's limited adoption.

It's essentially a business decision: the juice wasn't worth the squeeze for a product that hadn't gained significant market traction.

What's replacing EURT?

Tether isn't completely abandoning the European market. The company has partnered with Quantoz Payments to develop EURQ, a new euro-pegged stablecoin designed from the ground up to comply with MiCA regulations.

EURQ is being built with regulatory compliance as a core feature rather than an afterthought. This means it should be able to operate legally within the European Union's new regulatory framework without the compliance headaches that led to EURT's discontinuation.

However, EURQ is still in development, and there's no confirmed launch date yet. European users looking for euro-denominated stablecoins will need to explore other options in the meantime.

How does EURT compare to other stablecoins?

Understanding EURT's place in the stablecoin landscape helps explain both its purpose and its limitations:

EURT vs USDT (Tether USD)

USDT is EURT's dollar-denominated sibling and is massively more popular. While they work similarly, USDT benefits from the dollar's dominance in global trade and crypto markets. EURT never achieved anywhere near USDT's adoption levels.

EURT vs USDC (USD Coin)

USDC, issued by Circle, is generally considered more transparent and regulated than Tether's offerings. Circle regularly publishes detailed attestations of its reserves. EURT lacked this level of transparency and regulatory clarity.

EURT vs DAI

DAI is a decentralised stablecoin that's not controlled by a single company. While EURT required trusting Tether's reserves and management, DAI is backed by crypto collateral and governed by a decentralised community. However, DAI is primarily dollar-pegged.

EURT vs VNX VEUR

VNX VEUR is another euro-pegged stablecoin that's designed to be MiCA-compliant from the start. Unlike EURT, it was built with European regulations in mind and continues to operate in the EU market.

How to sell or convert EURT (if you still hold it)

If you currently hold EURT tokens, you have until 27 November 2025 to redeem them. A word of warning: try not to wait until the last minute as liquidity for EURT may decrease as the deadline approaches, potentially making it harder to convert at favourable rates.

You can sell or convert EURT on most major platforms. 

The bottom line on EURT

Euro Tether represented an interesting experiment in euro-denominated stablecoins, but it ultimately couldn't overcome the challenges of regulatory compliance and limited adoption. However, not all is lost: its discontinuation highlights the growing importance of regulatory clarity in the crypto space, especially in Europe.

For users who relied on EURT, the transition period provides time to move to alternative solutions. The development of EURQ and other MiCA-compliant euro stablecoins suggests that demand for euro-denominated digital assets remains strong - it's just a matter of building products that can thrive in the new regulatory environment.

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