August 17, 2026 | NCFA Market Activity | Lending Consumer Credit And BNPL, Digital Assets, Competition And Market Structure
Shakepay Launches Bitcoin-Backed Line Of Credit In Canada
On August 13, 2026, Montreal-based Shakepay launched its Shakepay bitcoin-backed line of credit, BLOC, for eligible Canadian customers. Borrowers can access up to C$50,000, with rates starting at 9.5% APR, using eligible bitcoin held with Shakepay as collateral.
BLOC is offered by Shakepay Credit Inc., an affiliated entity that received securities law exemptive relief to offer bitcoin-backed credit to eligible customers.
Shakepay retains more of the lending operation inside affiliated entities rather than relying on an outside lender to run the credit product.
BLOC is a revolving line of credit available within Shakepay. Eligible customers can draw against available credit, monitor balances and loan-to-value, make payments and adjust eligible collateral subject to their agreement.
Bitcoin volatility is still paramount. If collateral values fall, borrowers may have to add bitcoin or repay part of the balance. Some or all of the collateral can ultimately be liquidated.
The CSA list of authorized crypto platforms includes Shakepay Inc. as a crypto asset trading platform and Shakepay Credit Inc. separately as a crypto-backed lending platform.
Customers use BLOC through Shakepay, but the loan itself is provided by a separate Shakepay company, Shakepay Credit Inc.
Shakepay Adds More Financial Services Around Crypto
BLOC follows several additions around the same customer relationship.
In July, Shakepay became a direct Interac e-Transfer participant. Customers already had access to e-Transfers, but direct participation gives Shakepay more control over how the service connects to its platform. NCFA's Shakepay Company Intelligence Snapshot tracks its expansion from bitcoin trading into payments, cards and business accounts.
On August 11, Shakepay launched Shakepay savings for cash and bitcoin. Two days later, BLOC added secured credit.
The legal entities and protections differ. Shakepay Inc. operates the regulated crypto platform. Cash savings are offered by Shakepay Financial Inc. Bitcoin savings remain with Shakepay Inc. BLOC is offered by Shakepay Credit Inc.
For customers, those expanding services are part of a common Shakepay experience.
Shakepay says more than 1.5 million Canadians have used the platform. Adding payments, savings and credit gives those customers more reasons to use Shakepay between crypto trades.
Competition therefore extends beyond trading fees and asset listings. Crypto platforms can also compete for payments, balances and borrowing.
Two Crypto Lending Models Are Emerging In Canada
Shakepay Credit and APX show two ways Canadian crypto platforms can add secured lending.
Shakepay and Netcoins take different approaches. Shakepay uses a separate company within its own group to provide the loan. Netcoins keeps the customer relationship, while APX handles the lending behind the scenes.
For customers, the practical questions are simpler. Who is actually lending the money? Where is the bitcoin held? What happens if its value falls? How much does the loan cost?
For the platforms, the choice comes down to control. Shakepay keeps more of the lending business inside its own group. Netcoins relies on a specialist provider.
Talking Point
Will Canada's larger crypto platforms keep more regulated financial functions inside affiliated entities, or will specialist providers become the infrastructure behind multiple consumer brands?
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
Finding the right home improvement specialist is often the defining factor between a stressful renovation and a seamless home upgrade. When it comes to residential remodeling in the National Capital Region, selecting top-tier bathroom contractors Ottawa is essential for ensuring high-quality craftsmanship, compliance with Ontario safety codes, and long-term durability. A bathroom is a complex ecosystem of plumbing, electrical wiring, ventilation, and moisture-proofing—requiring skilled expertise from start to finish.
Among Ottawa's premier residential remodeling specialists, Bath Bloom has established itself as a trusted leader in full-service bathroom transformations. Backed by over two decades of industry experience, Bath Bloom offers homeowners a modern, hassle-free approach to custom remodeling, combining designer aesthetics with licensed trade precision.
Why Choosing the Right Bathroom Contractor in Ottawa Matters
Ottawa homes face extreme weather variations throughout the year, ranging from freezing winter conditions to humid summer heat. These environmental shifts cause natural structural expansion and contraction, making proper moisture management and structural integrity critical during a bathroom remodel. Partnering with experienced, local Ottawa bathroom contractors ensures that every layer of your renovation—from subfloor prep and waterproof membranes to final tiling—is built to withstand local climate demands.
Beyond structural durability, working with qualified contractors provides key advantages:
Ontario Building Code Compliance: Licensed professionals guarantee that all plumbing modifications, electrical routing, and structural alterations meet strict provincial building codes.
Protection Against Water Damage: Proper installation of waterproofing systems, such as kerdi membranes and high-density wall panels, prevents costly hidden leaks and mold growth.
Efficient Project Timelines: Dedicated renovation teams manage logistics, material deliveries, and trade scheduling to complete projects on time without unnecessary delays.
Enhanced Property Equity: A professionally finished bathroom yields one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) for Ottawa homeowners preparing for resale.
Key Services Offered by Bath Bloom
Whether you are updating a compact powder room or designing an expansive master ensuite, Bath Bloom delivers a full spectrum of tailored renovation services across Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, and Orléans:
1. Custom Walk-In Shower Installations
Bath Bloom specializes in converting outdated bathtub-shower combinations into open, luxurious walk-in showers. These custom installations often feature frameless glass enclosures, linear drainage systems, built-in storage niches, and thermostatic multi-jet shower towers.
2. Modern Tub-to-Shower Conversions
For homeowners seeking greater accessibility or a sleeker modern look, tub-to-shower conversions offer an immediate upgrade. Bath Bloom utilizes advanced Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) wall panels alongside custom tile work to deliver seamless, grout-free wall surfaces that are effortlessly easy to clean.
3. Complete Bathroom Overhauls
For full-scale remodeling projects, Bath Bloom manages complete tear-outs and layout redesigns. This includes relocating plumbing lines, installing custom vanities with quartz or granite countertops, integrating smart LED lighting, and laying premium porcelain tile flooring.
4. Accessible & Universal Design Solutions
Bath Bloom designs functional, barrier-free spaces for clients looking to age in place safely. Features include low-threshold or curbless shower entries, slip-resistant flooring options, built-in bench seating, and stylishly integrated support hardware.
What Sets Bath Bloom Apart from Other Ottawa Contractors
Selecting a contractor involves comparing craftsmanship, transparency, and client service. Bath Bloom distinguishes itself in the Ottawa market through several core commitments:
20+ Years of Field Experience: With more than two decades in the construction industry, the team brings deep technical mastery to every layout challenge and structural detail.
Turnkey, Single-Source Management: Bath Bloom manages every phase of the project internally—eliminating the need for homeowners to juggle multiple independent plumbers, electricians, or tile setters.
Licensed Tradespeople: All electrical and plumbing work is performed by certified trades, ensuring total safety, compliance, and peace of mind.
Fixed-Price Transparency: Unexpected costs can ruin a renovation experience. Bath Bloom provides clear, itemized fixed-price quotes before work begins, ensuring complete budget clarity.
Comprehensive Warranty Protection: Every project is backed by solid warranty coverage on craftsmanship and structural installations, safeguarding your investment long after completion.
The Bath Bloom 5-Step Renovation Process
To ensure a smooth journey from initial concept to completed space, Bath Bloom follows a proven 5-step project framework:
Free Consultation: Homeowners meet with renovation experts—in-person or virtually—to discuss design preferences, functional goals, and budget considerations.
3D Design & Material Selection: Using 3D visualization tools, clients preview their redesigned bathroom before construction starts, helping them confidently select tiles, fixtures, and finishes.
Detailed Fixed-Price Proposal: A clear contract outlining project scopes, timelines, and exact pricing is agreed upon prior to demolition.
Professional Installation: Experienced tradespeople execute the renovation cleanly and efficiently, protecting surrounding living areas and keeping the job site organized.
Final Quality Inspection: The project concludes with a walkthrough alongside the homeowner to verify that every detail, fixture, and seal meets Bath Bloom’s high-quality standards.
Conclusion: Partnering with Ottawa's Renovation Experts
Investing in a bathroom renovation is one of the most effective ways to elevate your daily living standard while increasing your home’s market value. By hiring experienced, licensed bathroom contractors in Ottawa, you ensure that your project is completed safely, efficiently, and to the highest aesthetic standards.
With over 20 years of experience, transparent fixed pricing, complete 3D design planning, and turnkey project management, Bath Bloom stands out as a premier choice for Ottawa homeowners. To view their project portfolio, explore modern finish options, or request a free consultation, visit bathbloom.ca today.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
Canada’s gaming sector has changed quickly, and payment technology has become a major part of that evolution. As more regulated online gambling markets develop, operators face growing expectations around security, speed and transparency. The payment process is no longer just about putting money into an account. It has become an essential way for players to feel confident and trust the platform.
For players, safe deposits and reliable withdrawals are becoming increasingly important. In fact, all top online casinos need payment systems that can combine convenience with strong protection. Licensed operators are increasingly using identity verification, encryption, fraud controls, and responsible gambling tools to create safer environments. These measures also include deposit limits, session reminders and self-exclusion options, giving players greater control over how they use gaming services.
Fintech is helping push these developments forward. Digital wallets, instant banking systems and improved verification processes have made deposits and withdrawals much more straightforward. Canadian gaming platforms are increasingly expected to offer near-real-time processing and reliable payouts, which reduces delays and enhances the overall payment experience for players while keeping sensitive financial information protected.
The pressure is particularly noticeable in regulated markets because payment systems have to deal with more than just transaction speed. They also need to support identity checks, fraud screening, anti-money laundering controls and detailed reporting. This creates a demanding environment for payment providers, where transactions need to be processed efficiently without compromising compliance.
Ontario provides a clear example of how regulation can influence this process. After the launch of its regulated iGaming market in April 2022, payment systems became part of a closely controlled digital environment. Operators and their technology partners have had to deal with substantial transaction volumes while maintaining secure authorisation, verification and reporting processes.
This is where fintech innovation becomes particularly interesting. Payment gateways and processors have increasingly had to become more sophisticated, with encryption, tokenisation, automated fraud detection and continuous monitoring becoming important elements of the infrastructure. The aim is to make security work quietly in the background while allowing legitimate transactions to move quickly, inspiring confidence in the future of gaming payments.
The impact can extend beyond gaming, too. Technologies developed under the pressure of regulated gambling can have wider applications across fintech. Real-time authorisation, automated risk scoring, wallet integration and secure handling of sensitive information are all relevant to other digital businesses that need to balance convenience with protection.
Reputable gaming comparison and news platforms reflect this changing environment by focusing on licensed Canadian operators, compliant payment methods and clearer information for players. The wider trend is towards greater transparency, with consumers increasingly able to assess how platforms handle payments and what safeguards are available.
Ultimately, regulation is reshaping payments in Canadian gaming. Safety, compliance and convenience now have to work together rather than being treated as separate concerns. As technology continues to advance, payment systems will need to keep adapting. Still, the direction is clear: stronger infrastructure, better protection, and greater player confidence are becoming central to the future of regulated iGaming in Canada.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
Aug 8, 2026 | NCFA Fintech Whisperer | Digital Banking And BaaS, Regulation And Policy, SME Finance And Business Banking, Digital Assets Blockchain And Tokenization, Payments Infrastructure And Money Movement, Capital Markets Infrastructure And Funding, Artificial Intelligence And Data, Wealthtech Investing And Trading, Embedded Finance, Risk Compliance And Regtech, Lending Consumer Credit And BNPL, Cybersecurity Fraud And Financial Crime
Gate, which Alpaca says serves more than 58 million users, launched access to more than 10,000 U.S. listed stocks and ETFs, eligible IPO allocations and tokenized stocks using Alpaca infrastructure.
Alpaca provides the brokerage infrastructure behind the offering and supports custody and settlement of the underlying shares associated with Gate's gStocks tokenized stock product.
One day earlier, Crypto.com launched Tokenized Stocks through Alpaca for a platform serving more than 150 million customers, offering economic exposure to 1,500 U.S. stocks and ETFs from US$1, with selected products available around the clock.
Crypto.com's products are derivative financial instruments that provide economic exposure rather than ownership of the underlying shares or associated shareholder rights.
Large crypto platforms are starting to look more like multi asset investment distributors, but the infrastructure underneath them is still regulated brokerage, custody and settlement. Alpaca has been building specifically for this role, which NCFA recently examined in its global brokerage platform expansion. The competitive question is who controls that regulated layer as crypto, traditional securities and tokenized products converge inside the same customer interface.
BlackRock Canada launched the iShares Equity + Bitcoin ETF Portfolio, or IBQT, on the Toronto Stock Exchange with a strategic allocation of approximately 97% global equities and 3% bitcoin.
The fund carries a 0.22% management fee and packages Canadian, U.S., international and emerging market equities with bitcoin exposure inside one portfolio.
IBQT currently gets its bitcoin exposure through BlackRock’s Canadian IBIT fund, extending that product from a standalone bitcoin investment into a component of a diversified portfolio.
IBQT changes where the crypto allocation decision happens. Investors choosing the fund are buying a diversified equity portfolio with bitcoin already assigned a modest strategic weight, rather than adding crypto separately. That puts bitcoin closer to conventional portfolio construction and gives Canadian advisers and investors a simple way to combine traditional markets and digital assets in one listed product.
Flywire expanded its Trustly partnership into Canada and the United States, letting payers authorize large domestic and cross border payments directly from their bank accounts.
In Canada, the payment itself runs through Pre Authorized Debit. Trustly adds bank authentication and account connectivity around that existing rail rather than using Canada’s future regulated payment initiation framework.
The service removes manual account entry during checkout and adds payment verification and risk controls around higher value bank transfers.
Pay by Bank is reaching Canadian customers before regulated payment initiation does. Foreign providers are improving the experience around an existing Canadian bank rail instead of waiting for new infrastructure. That makes the commercial timing important for Canada’s open banking opportunity: future regulated access will enter a market where some of the customer experience is already being built.
Toronto based Dream Payments launched Dream Payouts for eligible U.S. businesses in collaboration with J.P. Morgan Payments, supporting payments to suppliers, partners and individuals.
Eligible payments can arrive through the RTP network in under 30 seconds, including nights, weekends and holidays, with ACH and wire available when instant delivery is unavailable or not selected.
Software platforms can embed payout capabilities, while Dream provides recipient onboarding, identity checks, banking verification, approval controls and transaction tracking from initiation through settlement.
Dream says the infrastructure can support software and AI agents that initiate, approve and reconcile payments within defined business controls.
Dream is taking infrastructure built by a Canadian fintech into U.S. business payment workflows where the payment can start inside the software that created the obligation. That also gives agent payment infrastructure a more concrete operating model: software can participate in the workflow, but identity, authority, approval and settlement controls still determine whether money moves.
Francisco Partners agreed to acquire Moneris from RBC and BMO for approximately C$2.0 billion in cash, with each bank receiving half of the proceeds. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
RBC and BMO will keep exclusive referral relationships with Moneris even as ownership of the payments company transfers to Francisco Partners.
Moneris says it has nearly 2,000 employees in Canada and will retain its Canadian headquarters and technology infrastructure after the transaction closes.
Last year’s Moneris sale discussion has become a signed change of control. RBC and BMO are giving up ownership while preserving customer distribution, leaving Francisco Partners to decide how aggressively Moneris invests across merchant acquiring, commerce software and payments technology. The separation between infrastructure ownership and bank distribution is the more consequential part of the deal.
CIMPA and CDS will begin the first stage of Canada's fail fee framework for Government of Canada bond and T-bill transactions on September 8, 2026.
The trial will run for at least 18 months. Settlement fails and indicative fees will be calculated, statistics will be published and CDS participants will receive reports and indicative invoices.
No fail fees will be charged or paid during this first stage. The Canadian Fixed-Income Forum will decide whether payments are activated later.
Canada is putting a settlement discipline framework into live measurement before imposing a financial penalty. That gives dealers, custodians and market infrastructure providers time to see where fails occur, what the operational burden looks like and whether the fee design changes settlement behaviour. The evidence from the trial will determine whether a reporting framework eventually becomes an economic incentive.
CIMPA, TMX Group and Clearstream have started repo trading using a standardized Government of Canada General Collateral basket on the Canadian Collateral Management Service.
CCMS automates repo collateral management and supports unlimited real time collateral substitution, giving participants another way to manage liquidity and collateral throughout a transaction.
The first GoC basket is expected to be followed by standardized baskets covering provincial securities, Canada Mortgage Bonds, NHA mortgage backed securities, public sector securities and corporate collateral.
Canada's repo market now has a standardized collateral workflow running on infrastructure that the Bank of Canada also plans to use for its domestic repo operations. Wider adoption would make collateral easier to allocate and substitute across financing activity while reducing manual processing. The next evidence is usage: how much repo activity migrates onto CCMS and whether the additional baskets deepen participation beyond Government of Canada securities.
PointsKash announced an expanded strategic capital commitment of up to US$100 million from Hawk Capital Advisors to support commercialization and national deployment of its financial services platform.
The first phase provides for up to US$35 million through October 30, 2026 for priorities including refurbishment and deployment of approximately 2,100 company owned KashPoint kiosks, technology integration, merchant activation, PK Pay development and working capital.
A second phase could provide up to another US$65 million between February and April 2027, subject to operating and deployment milestones, customary closing conditions and financing availability.
The financing connects capital directly to deployment of a physical and digital financial services network rather than funding an undefined expansion plan. PointsKash acquired more than 2,100 cryptocurrency kiosks earlier in August and now has a staged capital structure intended to refurbish and redeploy that hardware while building payments, merchant and mobile services around it. The conditional structure also keeps a clear line between near term funding and the larger amount that depends on execution.
CIRO now requires a Participant or Access Person to have a reasonable expectation that a short sale can settle on the intended settlement date before entering the order.
The rule adds a positive control before execution instead of relying only on action after a trade fails to settle.
CIRO provides defined exceptions, including certain sales involving securities a person is deemed to own, subject to prescribed delivery conditions.
The rule changes where settlement risk has to be dealt with. Firms must support the expectation of settlement before a short sale reaches the market, putting more responsibility on trading controls, securities availability and supervision. Difficult to borrow securities and repeated settlement failures will show how demanding the requirement becomes in practice.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra told banks to maintain inventories of material AI systems and establish governance that assigns clear responsibility for their use and risks.
He called for contracts with AI providers to preserve audit, explanation and exit rights, while material systems should be stress tested and tested against adversarial behaviour before deployment and periodically afterward.
Banks should retain meaningful human oversight where an AI error could materially harm a customer or financial stability, including lending, fraud and other consequential decisions.
RBI is pushing AI governance into the same operating disciplines banks already use for material risk. That aligns with Canadian work on regulated AI, where model oversight, vendor access, fallback plans and proof of control are becoming practical requirements. The advantage will come from deploying useful AI while being able to show who owns the risk and how the system is controlled.
Brazil’s central bank is assessing bilateral connections between Pix and foreign instant-payment systems, as well as participation in multilateral payment hubs, to support lower-cost and faster cross-border transfers.
The work goes beyond earlier discussion of possible international expansion. Banco Central do Brasil had already placed Pix Internacional on its 2027+ development agenda in March, and the August update points to more concrete interoperability options.
Pix processed nearly 80 billion transactions worth more than R$35 trillion in 2025, giving any international connection potential scale well beyond a niche cross-border payment product.
Pix is starting to test whether a national instant-payment rail can connect directly into foreign payment infrastructure rather than relying only on traditional correspondent channels. NCFA’s cross border payments benchmark shows why that distinction matters: strong domestic rails don’t automatically solve international cost, speed or interoperability. The practical questions are which systems Brazil connects to first, how FX, compliance and settlement are handled across jurisdictions, and whether this becomes a repeatable model for other domestic real time rails.
The OCC granted preliminary conditional approval for World Liberty Trust Company, National Association, the proposed national trust bank of Trump family backed World Liberty Financial.
The approved business plan covers USD1 issuance and redemption, maintenance of USD1 reserve assets, fiduciary digital asset custody and limited conversion services for custody customers.
The approval is not authority to begin operations. The proposed bank is limited to trust company activities, does not plan to become an FDIC insured depository institution and must satisfy remaining OCC conditions before commencing business.
USD1 could move from a stablecoin structure supported by external service providers into a federally supervised trust bank that combines issuance, redemption, reserves and custody. That would bring more of the operating stack behind a payment stablecoin inside one regulated entity, while concentrating responsibility for reserve management, safeguarding and compliance.
Deribit FZE received a Broker Dealer Licence from Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, expanding the permissions behind its existing regulated spot trading operation.
Spot buy, sell and trade orders placed on Deribit can now be routed to Coinbase Exchange for execution, giving clients access to deeper liquidity and hundreds of additional assets.
The upgraded spot service is rolling out to retail, qualified and institutional investors. Assets acquired through it can also be used as collateral for Deribit derivatives trading, subject to regulatory approval.
The Coinbase acquisition is moving from ownership into shared market infrastructure. Deribit can keep its derivatives interface while drawing on Coinbase's spot liquidity and execution stack, extending the Deribit acquisition strategy into day to day trading. That brings spot execution, collateral and derivatives closer together inside one regulated operating structure.
PM MTF Ltd received CySEC authorization under MiCA for crypto asset services alongside its existing regulated European trading venue.
The authorized activities include operating a crypto asset trading platform, custody and administration, execution of orders, reception and transmission of orders, and crypto asset transfers.
The authorization provides a regulated route for Perpetual Markets to extend crypto services across the EEA, including infrastructure that can support institutional and white label distribution.
The significance is the combination of existing regulated market infrastructure with newly authorized crypto services. Rather than building a separate crypto venue, Perpetual Markets can extend an established MTF operating model into digital assets, giving brokers and institutions another route to offer crypto products under a European regulatory framework. The announcement authorizes expansion, but does not establish that every permitted crypto service is already live at scale.
Hong Kong licensed issuer Anchorpoint began phase one of HKD At Par, or HKDAP, through Beta Access for institutional distributors and professional investors.
Authorized distributors can provide conversion between HKDAP and fiat currency for institutions, corporate users and professional investors while integrating the stablecoin into commercial and financial applications.
Anchorpoint is initially targeting cross border payments and settlement and distribution of tokenized real world assets. Broader retail access could begin as early as the end of 2026, depending on market conditions.
Hong Kong's stablecoin regime has crossed from licensing into controlled distribution and commercial use. That builds on the tokenized finance strategy NCFA has been tracking through Standard Chartered and Hong Kong's regulators. HKDAP now has to prove that regulated tokenized money can attract repeat transaction flow across payments, asset settlement and institutional distribution rather than remain a licensed product with limited circulation.
Coinbase received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM to arrange investment deals and provide custody in support of tokenized securities.
Coinbase says securities issued through the structure will be backed by underlying shares, with verified token holders receiving shareholder rights including dividends and voting.
Transfers will be subject to ongoing sanctions screening, with wallet level freeze and seizure capabilities where required.
The important distinction is the legal and operating structure behind the token. Coinbase is combining regulated custody, underlying shares, investor rights and blockchain transferability rather than offering price exposure alone. That puts the model inside the infrastructure test NCFA is tracking for regulated tokenized assets: whether ownership rights, custody, compliance and transfer can work together at market scale.
Robinhood has begun rolling crypto trading out to eligible UK customers, adding more than 50 digital assets directly inside its main investing app alongside equities, ISAs, options and futures.
Crypto trading is provided through Bitstamp UK Ltd, bringing the regulated UK infrastructure Robinhood acquired with Bitstamp into Robinhood’s retail distribution channel. Robinhood completed the acquisition in June 2025 to accelerate its crypto expansion outside the U.S.
The rollout is a material follow-on to Robinhood’s July 1 announcement, when the company said UK crypto trading was coming soon but had not yet launched it. Robinhood’s own disclosure at the time still said its UK entity did not offer crypto trading or custody.
The launch also adds Cortex Digests for Crypto, using generative AI to combine news, market data, technical indicators and Robinhood information into asset-level market summaries.
Bitstamp is becoming more than an acquired exchange for Robinhood. Its UK crypto infrastructure now lets Robinhood add digital assets to the same interface where customers already invest across traditional markets. The next test is whether that combination deepens customer activity and gives Robinhood a repeatable way to extend its wider investment platform into regulated crypto markets.
Shakepay launched BLOC, a revolving line of credit that lets eligible Canadian customers borrow against bitcoin held with Shakepay without selling it.
Customers can borrow up to C$50,000 starting at 9.5% APR and track their balance, payments, collateral and loan to value ratio inside the Shakepay app.
BLOC is offered by Shakepay Credit Inc. under exemptive relief. If collateral values fall, borrowers may need to add bitcoin, repay part of the balance or face liquidation under the product terms.
Crypto backed lending is becoming part of the product stack offered by Canadian trading platforms. Shakepay is integrating the credit relationship directly into its own account experience, while embedded crypto lending at Netcoins uses APX to supply the lending operation behind the interface. The two models create different economics and different responsibility for underwriting, collateral controls and servicing.
Toronto based Mortgage Automator launched Draw Management, bringing construction budgets, draw schedules and approvals directly into the active loan file for private lenders.
The feature automatically flags budget variances and applies Project Health scoring so lenders can monitor construction progress and draw risk without relying on separate spreadsheets or disconnected workflows.
The launch follows Mortgage Automator's August 4 acquisition of Lendr, extending its expansion into construction and private lending infrastructure across North America.
Construction lending is operationally intensive because capital is released in stages and each draw depends on current budget, progress and compliance information. Moving those controls into the loan system can reduce reconciliation work and make exceptions visible earlier, while giving private lenders a more integrated way to manage construction credit as portfolios scale.
TD launched an in-app payroll direct-deposit switching experience that lets customers redirect payroll deposits to a TD account in about one minute with most employers.
The capability is powered by Atomic and sits inside the TD app, removing the need for customers to separately obtain banking details and update payroll information through their employer.
TD says it is the first Canadian financial institution to offer a fully integrated in-app payroll switching experience and has exclusive Canadian rights to Atomic’s capability through the end of 2026.
Opening a new bank account is easier than making it the primary account. Payroll switching reduces the work required to redirect recurring income and adds an operational layer to open banking and financial portability. Competition improves when customers can act on a better banking option, not only compare one. The next measure is whether easier switching translates into more primary-account relationships and deposits.
Revolut Bank S.A. received a full French banking licence following a joint assessment by France’s ACPR and the European Central Bank, with the decision formally adopted by the ECB Governing Council.
The new French bank will begin serving customers in France before progressively expanding across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Revolut Bank UAB in Lithuania remains the group’s other European banking hub.
Revolut says Western Europe now accounts for about 30 million customers. It has committed more than €1 billion to the region and is hiring more than 600 people across its Western European markets.
The licence turns Revolut’s banking expansion into a two-hub European structure with a new regulated entity serving its largest regional customer base. The execution test is how quickly customers and products migrate to the French bank, and whether local licences give Revolut more room to deepen lending, business banking and other regulated services across Western Europe.
The CFTC exercised emergency authority after Kalshi notified the Commission of a market emergency tied to litigation brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The Commission ordered Kalshi to continue operating in accordance with the Commodity Exchange Act Core Principles. New York is seeking to stop Kalshi from offering event contracts nationwide and is pursuing more than US$36 billion in damages.
The CFTC says federal law requires a uniform national derivatives market and has challenged state efforts to apply gambling laws to federally regulated designated contract markets in several jurisdictions.
The dispute is becoming a direct test of who controls access to event contracts in the United States. The CFTC is treating Kalshi as national derivatives infrastructure while states continue to challenge parts of the market through gaming law. NCFA’s regulated event contract infrastructure brief tracks the same boundary between exchange regulation, market integrity and product access.
ClearScore, Modulr, Teya, Urban Jungle and Zilch became the first firms regulated solely by the FCA to join its Scale-up Unit.
The unit gives fast-growing regulated firms a dedicated regulatory contact for product launches, permission changes, policy developments and other issues that arise as they expand.
The FCA also published findings from a 15-firm high-growth pilot, including weaknesses where governance, board oversight, risk management and controls had not kept pace with business growth.
The FCA is making regulatory engagement part of the scale up process rather than waiting for rapid growth to create supervisory problems. NCFA’s closer look at the five firms shows how that support intersects with payments, credit, insurance and European expansion. For fintechs, the tradeoff is clearer: faster access to regulatory guidance comes with closer attention to whether governance, controls and customer protections are developing at the same rate as products, customers and market expansion.
Senate leadership filed cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, after the chamber left for its August recess without voting on the bill.
The Senate schedule says the cloture motion will ripen on September 15 at 2:15 p.m., creating a formal procedural route toward floor consideration when senators return.
The bill still faces a 60-vote threshold and unresolved negotiations, including bank concerns over stablecoin rewards and proposed ethics provisions.
The CLARITY Act has moved from an uncertain post-recess commitment to a scheduled Senate procedure. The September vote will test whether negotiators can assemble enough support to advance a federal market-structure framework and narrow the remaining disagreements over banking, stablecoins and digital-asset oversight.
Mercury launched Mercury Spend with budgets, expense policies and company cards managed through one spending system.
Businesses can issue dedicated cards to AI agents for approved transactions and monitor their spending separately from employee activity.
Budgets and expense policies provide the control layer around those cards, while Mercury can automatically categorize transactions and lock cards when required tasks remain overdue.
The important change is that an AI agent can now receive its own controlled payment credential rather than only prepare a transaction for someone else. That makes permission design part of the payment product. NCFA has already tracked how AI agents use card rails; Mercury brings the same question inside company spending, where budgets and policy controls define how much authority software actually receives.
SIDBI and MonetaGo confirmed that Secure Financing is live on SIDBI’s GST-Sahay invoice-based financing platform following a pilot and three months of production use.
The system validates invoices financed through India’s TReDS infrastructure and checks invoices across participating factoring platforms and lenders, including SBI Global Factors and India Factoring.
The production milestone follows the November 2025 SIDBI-MonetaGo partnership. The system is designed to identify duplicate financing and strengthen invoice validation before credit is advanced to MSMEs.
Invoice financing fraud controls are becoming shared lending infrastructure rather than checks performed inside one lender at a time. MonetaGo has been working on shared trade finance fraud controls for years; the SIDBI deployment brings that model into live MSME lending. The test is whether interoperable validation reduces duplicate financing and exceptions at scale while making cash flow credit faster and safer across multiple lenders and factoring platforms.
De Nederlandsche Bank granted Mews Financial Services B.V. an Electronic Money Institution licence, giving the hospitality software company regulated financial standing across the EEA.
Mews plans to bring payment services, financial workflows and hotel operating data into the same platform, alongside safeguarding, fraud monitoring, sanctions screening and anti money laundering controls.
The company processed US$19.7 billion in hotel transaction value in 2025. Regulated capabilities are expected to begin with a Netherlands pilot in late 2026 before expanding across the EEA.
Mews is taking embedded finance beyond connecting hotels to outside financial providers. Its own regulated entity can now sit inside the software where hotel revenue, operations and payments already meet. That changes the regulatory boundary for embedded finance: vertical software can become part of the licensed financial infrastructure instead of remaining only the distribution layer.
TransFi launched JARVIS, a proprietary compliance intelligence platform that combines KYC and sanctions screening, internet profiling, behavioural and biometric signals, and fiat and blockchain transaction monitoring.
JARVIS builds risk profiles, uses heuristics and AI research to recommend actions on high confidence matches, and escalates complex or ambiguous cases for human review.
Final KYC, KYB, transaction monitoring and screening decisions remain with TransFi's compliance team under MLRO oversight.
AI is entering compliance as an investigation and decision support layer rather than replacing accountable human approval. That model fits the emerging market for AI powered compliance workflows where evidence, escalation, auditability and human control determine whether automation can be trusted. TransFi's operating test is whether JARVIS reduces review effort across multiple jurisdictions without weakening decision quality.
Trezor disclosed that a breach at shipping provider ShipMonk exposed customer information including names, email addresses, phone numbers and shipping addresses.
Approximately 11,742 customers had full contact and shipping information exposed, while another 1,947 had partial exposure, bringing the affected total to about 13,689 customers.
Trezor says its own systems, devices and services were not compromised. The company warns that the exposed information could instead be used for more sophisticated phishing and impersonation attempts.
The breach shows how self custody can inherit risk from suppliers that never touch a private key. Fulfilment providers still hold enough identity and location data to expose hardware wallet owners to targeted attacks, making vendor controls and data retention part of hardware wallet security rather than a separate privacy issue.
Weekly Close
Financial infrastructure is becoming easier to enter and harder to operate well. Bank switching is getting simpler, payments are becoming programmable, AI agents are gaining spending authority and software platforms are taking on regulated financial roles. At the same time, regulators are putting more weight on governance, settlement discipline, market access and accountability. The competitive advantage is moving toward firms that can combine better distribution with stronger control of the infrastructure underneath it.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
August 14, 2026 | NCFA Companies On The Move | Artificial Intelligence And Data, Risk Compliance And Regtech, Banking And Credit
Enterprise AI Moves From Content Processing Into Governed Workflows
Founded2021
OriginToronto, Canada
FounderAdrian Murray
Company StageAccelerate / Commercialize
Fisent Technologies is a Toronto enterprise AI company founded in 2021 by Adrian Murray. Its BizAI platform reads and interprets unstructured content such as applications, claims, statements, contracts and correspondence, then turns the results into data and actions that existing business workflows can use.
The company now has enough operating evidence to look beyond the technology itself. Fisent says BizAI has more than 20 enterprise use cases in production, with customers across banking, lending, wealth management, insurance and other industries. Public examples include Aruba Bank through Orco Group, AEGIS London, CMG Financial and Westinghouse.
On August 11, Fisent closed a US$4.3 million venture round led by FINTOP, bringing disclosed funding to US$6.3 million. The financing arrives after Fisent reported 206% revenue growth in 2025, 173% net revenue retention and a third consecutive year without customer churn. Those percentages are company-reported, and Fisent does not disclose the revenue amount or total customer count.
Why Regulated Enterprises Are Buying Fisent
Banks, insurers and other large companies still receive important information in documents, emails, forms, scans and files that don't arrive in one clean structure. Employees have to read the content, decide what it means, enter the relevant information and route the work. Fisent is selling automation into that gap.
In 2024, Orco Group used BizAI at Aruba Bank to process documents following its acquisition of CIBC FirstCaribbean operations. The company case study reports a 90% decrease in errors, more than 70% faster processing and capacity for as many as 10,000 unstructured documents a day. Those are customer case-study results, not audited benchmarks.
In mortgage lending, CMG Financial selected BizAI for underwriting and processing workflows. AEGIS London has deployed it for insurance endorsement processing. Outside financial services, Pega independently featured Westinghouse and Fisent at PegaWorld 2026, describing a live workflow that combines Fisent's AI with Pega automation to improve parts fulfillment and route exceptions to people.
Those examples give Fisent something many enterprise AI companies still lack, which is proof that customers are putting the software into operating workflows. That is especially useful in regulated finance, where AI adoption depends on controls, data quality and third party oversight as much as model capability.
Adrian Murray, Founder and CEO, Fisent:
“Enterprises are moving beyond AI experimentation and choosing the capabilities they can trust to operate at scale.”
BizAI Sits Between Enterprise Content And Existing Workflows
BizAI can classify content, split complex files, extract information, verify it against defined criteria, analyze context and standardize tables. Fisent lets customers choose different models and hosting options, then uses its GenAI Efficacy Framework to compare model configurations on measures such as accuracy, speed, consistency and cost.
That model flexibility is important when a bank or insurer doesn't want one provider deciding where its data is processed or which model supports every use case. Fisent says its default architecture retains no customer content and does not use customer data to train models. The company completed a SOC 2 Type II examination in 2025 and says its controls were expanded during that year's review.
BizAI Studio launched in May 2026, giving business and automation teams a visual environment to design, test, deploy and maintain workflows with review gates, versioning and traceability. That changes where Fisent competes. A customer can build directly with a model provider, use AI functions inside a large workflow platform, buy a document-processing product or use Fisent as the content intelligence layer between models and existing systems. Fisent has to keep earning that position as larger platforms add their own AI capabilities.
Pega is particularly important because it is both an investor and a workflow partner. That relationship gives Fisent a route into enterprise processes already running on Pega, while also making the surrounding platform ecosystem part of its distribution strategy. Governed financial AI increasingly depends on exactly these workflow controls: permissions, evidence, review, escalation and records of what the system did.
Pricing isn't public. Fisent reports strong growth in licensing revenue and enterprise expansion, but contract size, recurring revenue mix and implementation economics remain private.
FINTOP Adds Capital And A Bank Distribution Option
Fisent's bottleneck is changing. It already has product and deployment evidence. The next job is selling and implementing it repeatedly across more large enterprises.
The US$4.3 million round is Fisent's first priced venture financing and follows US$2 million of earlier disclosed investment from investors including Pega, Cloudberry Pioneer Investments and Sand Dollar Capital. Pega participated again in the FINTOP round, and FINTOP Partner John Philpott is joining Fisent's board.
FINTOP says its strategic investor network includes about 100 banks with US$1.3 trillion in combined assets, along with other financial services companies. That network doesn't automatically give Fisent 100 prospects, pilots or customers. It does put an investor with deep financial institution relationships beside a company trying to sell regulated enterprise AI.
Fisent says the new capital will expand sales, customer enablement, deployment engineering and product development while widening distribution through workflow and technology partners. Those uses fit the current stage. Enterprise AI can fail commercially even when the model works if implementation takes too much specialist effort or every customer becomes a custom project.
Fisent Is In The Commercialization Stage
Fisent reports impressive growth in 2025 with 206% total revenue growth, 365% licensing revenue growth and 173% net revenue retention. It says customers now run more than three BizAI implementations on average, 90% added at least one production use case during 2025 and none has churned in three years.
Those numbers reflect expansion inside existing accounts. They don't tell us how large Fisent is in absolute terms. Revenue, profitability, valuation, contract values and total customer count are not public. Its first Fortune 50 customer in 2026 is also a company-reported milestone and the customer has not been named.
The evidence puts Fisent beyond initial validation without placing it in the same scale category as established enterprise platforms. Its current position is best described as Accelerate / Commercialize: real production use, repeat deployments and rising revenue, with absolute scale still private.
The FINTOP round raises the commercial bar. More named financial institution deployments, a larger base of repeatable implementations and evidence that BizAI Studio reduces deployment work would show that Fisent can grow without services effort rising at the same pace as software adoption.
On the NCFA Financial Innovation Map, Fisent sits where enterprise AI, workflow automation, financial operations and regtech meet.
The Company Intelligence Snapshot below follows the evidence that brings Fisent from formation into its current commercialization stage.
NCFA Company Intelligence Snapshot
Fisent Technologies
Enterprise AI for turning unstructured content into governed workflow actions
Named EvidenceWestinghouse, AEGIS London, CMG Financial, Orco Group / Aruba Bank and Connection
Financial ServicesBanking, lending, wealth management and insurance workflows
SecuritySOC 2 Type II; zero retention by default
Business ModelEnterprise software and implementation relationships; pricing and revenue amount are private
Milestones
Select a milestone to follow Fisent from formation through enterprise commercialization and its 2026 FINTOP financing
1Foundation2021
2BizAI Commercialization2024
3Enterprise Adoption2025
4Product Expansion2026
5FINTOP RoundAug 2026
Milestone 1
Financial Technology Experience Leads To Fisent (2021)
Adrian Murray founded Fisent in Toronto in 2021 after more than a decade working in financial services technology and operations, including core banking, digital banking, compliance, regtech and payments.
Company
FisentToronto financial technology company
Stage
FoundationCompany formation and early product work
Capital
PrivateEarly financing details not publicly disclosed
Markets
Financial ServicesBanking technology, compliance and operations
Customers
UnavailableEarly customer evidence is not public
Competition
Enterprise AutomationWorkflow and financial technology providers
Additional Company Data
Murray previously led end to end technology infrastructure at a de novo digital bank
Fisent is headquartered in Toronto
Current COO Brent Baiotto and CTO Jeff Irving add financial services and enterprise technology experience
NCFA Perspective
Fisent's foundation gives the company operating knowledge of financial institutions before generative AI becomes its commercial focus.
Milestone 2
BizAI Reaches Enterprise Workflows And Strategic Investors (2024)
Fisent brought BizAI into enterprise use and announced strategic investment from Pega, Sand Dollar Capital and other investors. Early disclosed deployments included banks, an insurer and a Fortune 1000 company, while Orco Group used BizAI at Aruba Bank for post-acquisition document processing.
Company
Fisent BizAIGenAI content automation enters production work
Stage
CommercializationInitial enterprise deployments become visible
Capital
Strategic SeedPega, Sand Dollar Capital and other investors
Markets
Regulated EnterpriseBanking, insurance and enterprise operations
Customers
Production UseNamed and unnamed enterprise deployments
Competition
Build Or BuyInternal AI builds and automation platforms are alternatives
BizAI was positioned as a layer connecting GenAI models with enterprise applications
Pega became both a strategic investor and workflow partner
NCFA Perspective
This milestone establishes Fisent's first visible production evidence and a strategic relationship with a major enterprise workflow provider.
Milestone 3
Named Customers And Repeat Deployments Strengthen The Case (2025)
Fisent brought disclosed funding to US$2 million, completed SOC 2 Type II work and added named enterprise evidence across insurance, mortgage lending and manufacturing. AEGIS London, CMG Financial and Westinghouse were among the customers publicly connected to BizAI.
Company
Enterprise AI VendorProduction use expands across customer functions
Stage
Enterprise AdoptionNamed buyers and repeated use cases
Capital
US$2MTotal disclosed seed funding by May 2025
Markets
Several IndustriesFinance, insurance, lending and manufacturing
Customers
Named EnterprisesAEGIS, CMG and Westinghouse among disclosed relationships
Competition
Operational ProofProduction results become more important than model access
Westinghouse implemented BizAI for parts and equipment fulfillment
NCFA Perspective
Fisent no longer relies on AI demonstrations alone. Named buyers are putting BizAI into operating workflows with real control and performance requirements.
Milestone 4
Studio Gives Customers More Control Over Deployment (2026)
Fisent launched BizAI Studio in May 2026 so customer teams could design, test, deploy and refine content automation workflows through a user-facing environment. The company also reported strong 2025 expansion inside existing customer accounts.
Company
BizAI PlatformCustomers gain more self-service configuration
Stage
Accelerate / CommercializeProduct breadth and account usage expand
Capital
Existing Seed BaseProduct develops ahead of next priced round
Markets
Enterprise OperationsMore workflows can be configured by customer teams
Customers
Account ExpansionCompany reports more than three implementations per customer on average
Competition
Deployment EfficiencySelf-service can reduce dependence on specialist implementation work
Growth inside existing accounts carries more weight than a long pipeline alone. Studio can strengthen that pattern if customers deploy additional workflows with less Fisent engineering work.
Milestone 5
FINTOP Backs The Next Commercialization Stage (August 2026)
FINTOP led Fisent's US$4.3 million first priced venture round, taking total disclosed funding to US$6.3 million. Pega participated again and FINTOP Partner John Philpott joined the board.
Company
Fisent TechnologiesEnterprise content automation company entering a larger sales phase
Stage
Accelerate / CommercializeProduction evidence is established; absolute scale remains private
Capital
US$4.3MUS$6.3M total disclosed funding
Markets
Regulated EnterpriseFinancial institutions remain a priority market
Customers
Fortune 50First Fortune 50 customer reported by Fisent in 2026; customer unnamed
Competition
DistributionBank relationships and deployment capacity become more important
FINTOP's network is a potential distribution asset, not evidence of Fisent customer contracts
NCFA Perspective
The financing gives Fisent more capacity to turn existing production evidence into repeatable enterprise distribution. Customer count, revenue scale and deployment economics will show how far commercialization progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fisent Technologies
What is Fisent Technologies?
Fisent Technologies is a Toronto enterprise AI software company founded in 2021. Its BizAI platform processes unstructured content and connects the results to enterprise workflows in financial services and other industries.
Who founded Fisent Technologies?
Adrian Murray founded Fisent in 2021. His background includes more than a decade in financial services technology and operations covering digital banking, core banking, compliance, regtech and payments.
Is Fisent a Canadian company?
Fisent was founded in Toronto and lists its headquarters in Toronto, Canada. It sells enterprise software to customers in Canada and international markets.
What does Fisent BizAI do?
BizAI reads and interprets unstructured and multimodal content, then classifies, splits, extracts, verifies, analyzes or standardizes information so it can be used inside enterprise workflows. Representative financial services uses include KYC, onboarding, claims, disputes, lending documents and account-transfer processing.
Named public relationships include Westinghouse, AEGIS London, CMG Financial, Orco Group / Aruba Bank and Connection. Fisent also says it serves Fortune 500 customers across banking, lending, wealth management and insurance, although not every customer is publicly named.
Fisent does not disclose its revenue amount or profitability. The company reported 206% year over year total revenue growth and 365% licensing revenue growth for 2025, but the underlying revenue base remains private.
What does Fisent's 173% net revenue retention mean?
Fisent reports 173% net revenue retention for 2025, which indicates that revenue from the measured existing customer base increased after expansion and any losses were included. Fisent has not published the underlying customer count, revenue base or calculation detail needed to independently reproduce the figure.
Is Fisent a regulated financial institution?
No. Fisent is an enterprise software provider, not a bank, insurer, investment dealer or financial advisor. Its regulated customers remain responsible for their own compliance, customer decisions, technology oversight and use of third party AI.
Does Fisent depend on one AI model?
No. Fisent markets BizAI as model and host optional. Its GenAI Efficacy Framework is designed to compare model configurations using measures such as accuracy, speed, consistency and cost for a particular workflow.
Who competes with Fisent?
Fisent competes with several approaches rather than one exact category. Enterprises can build directly with foundation models, use AI inside large workflow platforms, adopt specialist document and content automation software or combine those tools internally. Fisent's position depends on making unstructured content usable inside governed workflows without requiring customers to build and maintain the whole AI layer themselves.
What does FINTOP add to Fisent?
FINTOP brings new capital, fintech operating experience and a strategic investor network that it says includes about 100 banks with US$1.3 trillion in combined assets. That may help Fisent reach more financial institutions, but the network should not be interpreted as 100 customers or guaranteed introductions.
Related NCFA Intelligence
Continue into the operating and governance questions surrounding enterprise AI in regulated finance.
Information notice: Private company estimates are identified and attributed. Information may change after the stated update date. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial or legal advice.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
August 13, 2026 | NCFA Market Activity | Digital Assets Blockchain And Tokenization, Capital Markets Infrastructure And Funding, Regulation And Policy
Coinbase Tests How Regulated Securities Can Work Onchain
On August 11, 2026, Coinbase received Financial Services Permission from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market to establish a regulated tokenization hub in Abu Dhabi, allowing it to arrange investment deals and provide custody for tokenized securities.
The licence gives Coinbase a regulated structure for putting share-backed securities into digital wallets while keeping investor rights, sanctions controls and securities rules attached. The real test is whether tokenized securities can work in digital wallets without losing the investor rights and controls behind them.
The Token Comes With Conditions
Coinbase says securities issued through the ADGM structure are fully backed by underlying shares and can give verified holders economic and voting rights.
The terms are more specific. Only securities that meet the prospectus's vesting conditions carry certain rights, including voting. Dividends are automatically reinvested, while redemption is limited to eligible vested holders. Investors exercising redemption also need an appropriate brokerage or bank account capable of receiving the proceeds.
The FSRA approved prospectus register shows the legal structure in practice. Coinbase Onchain SPV Ltd is listed as issuer of NVIDIA CB Certificates, ticker NVDAc, classified as Certificates over Shares. The primary prospectus was approved on August 4, 2026.
Investors therefore aren't simply holding NVIDIA shares on a blockchain. They're holding a Coinbase-issued security linked to underlying shares, with ownership rights governed by the certificate and prospectus.
That point matters as tokenized securities develop measurable business models around custody, distribution, liquidity and investor rights. The technology can change how a security is held and transferred without removing the legal machinery underneath it.
Wallet Access Doesn't Make The Security Permissionless
Coinbase says investors transacting only in these digital securities don't need to establish a traditional brokerage account or correspondent banking relationship. They need a wallet.
Every transfer is still subject to sanctions screening, and Coinbase says assets can be frozen or seized at the wallet level when required.
That puts the wallet in a different role from the early crypto idea of bypassing financial intermediaries. It becomes another way to distribute and hold a regulated security while identity, custody, corporate actions and redemption remain part of the system.
Several operating details aren't public yet. Coinbase hasn't disclosed the full range of securities, all eligible jurisdictions, the blockchain network, secondary trading venues or how freely the securities can move between third-party wallets and applications.
Those details will determine the scope of the hub as market infrastructure or it remains primarily a new distribution channel.
Tokenized Equities Are Competing On Distribution
Coinbase is entering a market where competitors are already testing different ways to connect tokenized securities with traditional market infrastructure.
The value isn't in listing another tokenized stock. It is in making issuance, custody, trading, corporate actions and redemption work well enough that investors can actually use the asset.
Coinbase brings its existing wallet, custody and trading network into that contest. It is also expanding beyond crypto into a wider financial platform, a strategy already visible in the competition between Coinbase and Robinhood across trading, derivatives and new financial products.
Canada remains a separate regulatory market. Coinbase Canada's investment platform expansion includes ambitions around stocks and other products, but the Abu Dhabi authorization doesn't establish approval or availability for Canadian investors.
Talking Point
If tokenized equities can travel through wallets but still depend on issuers, custodians, eligibility rules and redemption infrastructure, how much of the capital market has actually changed?
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of the day-to-day operations of Canadian financial advice firms. From automating administrative tasks and analyzing client portfolios to supporting investment research and improving client communications, AI has the potential to make advisors more efficient and help firms deliver a better client experience.
But as adoption accelerates, governance isn't always keeping pace.
Many firms are experimenting with AI tools before establishing clear policies around how those tools should be used, monitored, and supervised. That creates significant risk in an industry where investment advice is built on trust, accountability, and regulatory compliance.
Using AI without proper governance is a bit like prescribing medication without understanding the side effects or drug interactions. The technology may offer benefits, but without safeguards, oversight, and a clear understanding of the risks, unintended consequences can quickly outweigh the advantages.
For Canadian financial advisors, governance shouldn't be viewed as unnecessary bureaucracy. It's an essential part of responsible innovation.
The Regulatory Landscape Is Evolving
Canada's financial regulatory environment already places significant responsibilities on advisors, and those obligations don't disappear simply because AI enters the picture. The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), together with provincial securities regulators such as the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), have made it clear that existing regulatory obligations continue to apply whenever technology influences regulated activities. Firms remain responsible for ensuring investor protection, fair dealing, appropriate supervision, cybersecurity, privacy, and sound governance, regardless of whether decisions are supported by artificial intelligence.
AI governance is no longer simply a future consideration. CIRO's 2026 Compliance Report identifies artificial intelligence and emerging technologies as areas of supervisory focus, signalling that firms should expect regulators to examine how AI systems are being used, what controls are in place, and whether appropriate oversight exists. The message is clear: firms remain accountable for the outcomes produced by the technology they choose to implement.
At its core, Canadian financial advisors continue to operate under well-established regulatory obligations. For most registered firms, this includes complying with Know Your Client (KYC), Know Your Product (KYP), and suitability requirements under the Client Focused Reforms. In certain advisory relationships, such as discretionary portfolio management, a fiduciary duty may also apply. Regardless of the business model, advisors are expected to understand the rationale behind every recommendation they provide and be able to explain why it is appropriate for each client. That expectation becomes much more challenging if an AI system produces recommendations that advisors cannot clearly explain, let alone defend or stress test.
Strong AI Governance Will Be Essential
Explainability is only one piece of the governance puzzle. Firms must also consider data privacy, cybersecurity, recordkeeping, model bias, third-party vendor oversight, and ongoing monitoring of AI systems. Regulators expect firms to demonstrate not only that technology delivers operational benefits, but also that associated risks are identified, documented, and actively managed.
History provides plenty of reasons for this scrutiny. AI systems used in other industries, such as HR, have produced biased hiring decisions, inaccurate healthcare recommendations, and flawed credit assessments due to inadequate oversight or unintended algorithmic behaviour. Financial advice firms cannot assume similar issues won't emerge within investment or wealth management applications.
Another emerging consideration is AI-generated investment commentary. Recent guidance from the CSA and CIRO reinforces that securities laws apply regardless of how investment recommendations are delivered. Whether commentary comes from a financial advisor, an online platform, or an AI-powered tool, firms remain responsible for ensuring communications comply with applicable registration, disclosure, and investor protection requirements. AI cannot be used to distance a firm from its regulatory responsibilities; introducing it does not reduce those responsibilities. If anything, it increases the need for governance.
Build Governance Before Expanding AI
Strong AI governance starts long before a new tool is deployed. Rather than allowing employees to independently adopt AI solutions across different departments, firms should first define exactly where AI will be used and where human expertise must remain central to the decision-making process. Administrative automation, document summarization, workflow management, and research support may represent lower-risk applications than suitability assessments, portfolio recommendations, or investment decisions that directly affect clients. Establishing clear use cases helps prevent AI from gradually expanding into areas where the risks may outweigh the benefits.
Governance also requires clear accountability. Every AI-enabled process should have an identified owner who is responsible for monitoring performance, addressing concerns, and escalating issues when necessary. Responsibility cannot rest with the software itself. Human accountability remains essential.
Transparency should be another guiding principle. Clients deserve to understand when AI contributes to services they receive, particularly if it influences recommendations, communications, or financial planning outputs. Transparency builds trust while helping clients better understand how technology supports, rather than replaces, professional judgment.
Bias testing is equally important because AI models learn from historical data, which can contain unintended biases. If left unchecked, algorithms may produce outcomes that disadvantage certain investor groups or reinforce patterns that conflict with principles of fairness and equal access. Regular testing allows firms to identify and correct these issues before they affect clients. The objective isn't simply to deploy AI; it's to deploy AI responsibly.
Turning Governance Into Daily Practice
Creating governance policies is only the first step. Maintaining them requires ongoing operational discipline. There are some daily practices that could help firms in this aspect:
Proper documentation: Every meaningful AI-assisted recommendation or decision should be properly documented. Firms should be able to demonstrate how information was generated, how it was reviewed, and how the final recommendation was reached. Comprehensive documentation not only supports internal quality control but also prepares firms for future regulatory reviews.
Continuous monitoring: AI systems are not static. Performance can change over time as market conditions evolve, new data becomes available, or models begin exhibiting algorithmic drift. Regular reviews help ensure systems continue operating as intended while identifying unexpected behaviours before they become larger problems. Many firms may benefit from conducting quarterly governance reviews that assess model performance, review exceptions, evaluate client outcomes, and confirm compliance with internal policies.
Employee education: This should also remain a priority. Advisors need to understand both the strengths and limitations of AI. Training should focus not only on how to use new tools but also on recognizing situations where human judgment should override automated recommendations.
AI should not be treated as a set-and-go replacement for professional expertise. It should be used responsibly as a tool that enhances decision-making and quality investment advice while preserving the experience, judgment, and accountability that clients expect from trusted financial advisors.
Responsible AI Is a Competitive Advantage
AI will undoubtedly reshape financial advice in Canada, but technology alone won't determine which firms succeed. Governance will. Organizations should establish clear policies, maintain transparency, monitor performance, and preserve meaningful human oversight while using AI. Without adequate governance, firms may expose themselves to compliance failures, reputational damage, and increased regulatory scrutiny.
As AI capabilities continue to expand, firms should regularly ask themselves one important question: Could we clearly explain every AI-assisted recommendation to a client and, if necessary, to a regulator? If the answer is yes, governance is likely supporting innovation. If the answer is no, governance deserves attention before AI adoption moves any further.
Ultimately, responsible AI is not a roadblock to the adoption of innovation. It's about ensuring innovation strengthens the quality, integrity, and trust that define professional financial advice.
Nadeem is a Chief Investment Strategist and Portfolio Manager with 20+ years' experience across major global banks, including senior-level roles at RBC, Raymond James, CIBC, Deutsche Bank, and Citigroup. At Marnoa, he leads investment strategy and portfolio management with a focus on North American equities and is a frequent commentator in the media, including regular appearances on BNN Bloomberg.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. 
