Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Feb 3, 2025

Image: Freepik/jcomp
In today's interconnected global economy, cross-border payments are the lifeblood of international trade, enabling businesses to transact seamlessly across borders. However, for fintech companies, navigating the complex landscape of cross-border payments presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities, particularly concerning regulatory compliance.
This article delves into these intricacies, highlighting the hurdles fintechs face and the innovative solutions they employ to facilitate efficient and compliant international transactions.
One of the most formidable challenges in cross-border payments is adhering to the diverse regulatory frameworks of different countries. Each jurisdiction has its own set of rules governing financial transactions, anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, and data protection standards.
For instance, the European Union enforces stringent AML and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies, requiring thorough verification of customer identities. Non-compliance can result in hefty fines, legal actions, or even the suspension of operations.
A case in point is Wise, a prominent fintech company that faced criticism from European regulators for inadequate AML controls. The National Bank of Belgium found that Wise lacked appropriate proof of address for hundreds of thousands of customers, leading to a mandated remediation plan to rectify these compliance gaps.
Managing multiple currencies is another significant hurdle. Converting funds between currencies can incur substantial fees due to fluctuating exchange rates, especially when dealing with countries with volatile currencies. These costs can erode profits for businesses and increase expenses for customers.
To mitigate these costs, fintechs are developing multi-currency digital wallets that allow users to hold and transact in various currencies. For example, Payoneer offers multi-currency accounts enabling businesses to receive payments in different currencies and withdraw funds locally, minimizing conversion fees and providing more favorable exchange rates.
Traditional cross-border payments often involve multiple intermediaries, such as correspondent banks, which can lead to high transaction costs and delays. Each intermediary adds a layer of fees and processing time, making international transactions cumbersome.
Blockchain technology offers a promising solution to these challenges. By enabling decentralized transactions without intermediaries, blockchain can facilitate real-time settlements at reduced costs. Ripple's RippleNet, for instance, uses its digital asset XRP as a bridge currency to enable instant cross-border payments, reducing reliance on correspondent banks and lowering transaction fees.
The global nature of cross-border payments exposes fintechs to increased security risks, including fraud and cyberattacks. Ensuring transaction security and compliance with international AML regulations is paramount.
Fintech companies are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance security measures. AI-powered algorithms can analyze transaction patterns in real-time to detect anomalies and potential fraudulent activities, enabling swift preventive actions. Additionally, implementing robust KYC procedures helps in verifying customer identities and mitigating the risk of fraud.
Despite these challenges, the evolving landscape of cross-border payments presents significant opportunities for fintech companies. By embracing innovative technologies and adopting agile approaches, fintechs can offer solutions that address the pain points of traditional banking systems.
The integration of cryptocurrencies into payment systems is gaining traction as a means to facilitate cross-border transactions. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and stablecoins offer a decentralized method of transferring value, reducing dependence on traditional banking channels and enabling faster, cost-effective transactions.
For example, Bitso, a cryptocurrency platform, provides services tailored for the gaming industry, including online casinos and sports betting platforms. By leveraging cryptocurrencies, Bitso enables real-time payments in local currencies across Latin America, ensuring compliance with local regulations and offering instant deposits and withdrawals.
Understanding and catering to local payment preferences is crucial for fintechs operating in multiple regions. Offering localized payment methods enhances user experience and increases market penetration.
For instance, in Brazil, Pix has become the most used payment method for gaming transactions. Similarly, sports betting platforms in Ontario must integrate local banking methods like Interac and PayPal to meet player expectations while ensuring compliance with provincial gaming regulations. Fintechs partnering with local payment providers can offer such popular methods, ensuring compliance with local regulations and meeting customer expectations.
Collaboration between fintechs and regulatory bodies can lead to more streamlined compliance processes. Engaging in public-private partnerships and participating in regulatory sandboxes allows fintechs to test innovative solutions in a controlled environment, ensuring they meet regulatory standards before full-scale deployment.
The World Economic Forum emphasizes the importance of such collaborations to overcome regulatory frictions in cross-border payments. By working together, the public and private sectors can shape a transparent, efficient, and inclusive cross-border payments ecosystem.
Navigating the complex terrain of cross-border payments and regulatory compliance is akin to a high-stakes game, where the rules vary across jurisdictions and the stakes are continually evolving. Fintech companies that can adeptly manage these challenges stand to gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
By embracing technological innovations, fostering collaborations, and maintaining a keen focus on compliance, fintechs can turn regulatory hurdles into opportunities, ensuring secure, efficient, and compliant cross-border payment solutions for their customers.
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
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Capital Gains Tax | Jan 31, 2025

Image: Freepik/pvproductions
According to Reuters and CBC, the federal government is delaying the proposed increase to the controversial capital gains tax until January 1, 2026. This is good news (at least temporarily) for innovation and investment in Canada. The changes to the capital gains tax policy received immense push back from many business groups, economists and the investment community, all warning the federal government that the policy would discourage investment in Canada and adversely affect economic growth.
The temporarily relief, also comes at a time when Canada is facing potential 25% tariffs from the U.S., and some tax payers are also challenging the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) legally, arguing that the the agency is enforcing tax changes when the changes have not yet been approved by Parliament.
With this delay, the decision on whether to implement the tax hike will now fall to the next government. The Conservative Party who is currently dominating the polls have already come out and said they strongly oppose the capital gains tax increase. Further, the Liberal Party of Canada leadership race front-runners have also come out and said they would reverse the proposed tax changes. Needless to say that the future of Canada's proposed capital gains tax policy is uncertain, it also wasted a lot of productivity in the process.
In case you missed it, Prime Minister Trudeau prorogued government until March 24, 2025 (he also resigned), and as a result the new tax policy wasn't legislatively approved by Parliament which meant that the policy was in limbo.
The problem was that the CRA decided to begin collecting the higher tax rate before it was formally enacted, leaving may taxpayers facing unwarranted burden. So multiple legal cases spawned challenging the CRA arguing taxpayer rights and the rule of law. Tax experts warn that if courts rule against the CRA, it could lead to refunds for those who overpaid taxes under the higher rate.
The fate of the proposed capital gains tax increase is now postponed to 2026 and will be decided by the outcome of the next federal election.
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
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FCAC | Jan 30, 2025

Image: Shereen Benzvy Miller New FCAC Commissioner
The government of Canada recently appointed Shereen Benzvy Miller as its new Commissioner of the The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), effective November 7, 2024 for a 5 year term (succeeding Werner Liedtke, interim Commissioner). Benzvy Miller brings a wealth of experience with over two decades of public service leadership in human rights advocacy, regulatory oversight, and digital service innovation in her roles as Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Service Innovation at Shared Services Canada and Deputy Chair of Refugee Protection at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and various other leadership roles.
The FCAC recently published an interview with Benzvy Miller offering insight into her driving mission, approach, and challenge ahead at the FCAC for the next several years. One that seeks to ensure Canada's financial sector continues to be fair, transparent and consumer-focused.
"The way that you create trust in the financial system is to make people feel seen, understood and respected."
To build trust in finance, fintech companies need to make sure people feel valued and are treated fairly. Financial services and the processes, transactions, and fees should be transparent, secure, and personalized. Digital banks and fintechs need to implement robust security and data protection while offering clear pricing and user-friendly services to reduce uncertainty.
"Financial literacy for children has to involve more than identifying different currencies, because most children may never see currency in their hands. Money will not be a tactile thing for today’s generation."
Earning trust is more than just security, it's also about education and financial literacy. By providing digital tools and addressing financial literacy challenges, fintechs can help consumers to manage their finances in modern times whether that be through AI powered advisors, budget tracking apps, or blockchain security, fintechs who protect and empower consumers to improve their financial literacy and informed decisions are well aligned with the FCAC's mission. Recognizing that younger generations primarily interact with digital money, fintechs have an important responsibility to create innovations that serve all Canadians and just a select few.
"A financial service provider, whether it’s a bank or a fintech, needs to put the consumer at the centre for all the services that it offers. This kind of consumer protection is not a 'nice to have."
Benzvy Miller emphasizes the need for a consumer-first approach where financial services must be designed to protect individuals. Companies that are working in areas like fair lending, or privacy-first digital banking, and even ethical AI are establishing new standards for responsible innovation. For fintechs, balancing innovation with regulation means finding ways to introduce new products while ensuring consumer protection. Startups and scale-ups should work closely with regulators to design solutions that are innovative, adaptable, and secure, or consumer-centric solutions that improve accessibility and affordability.
Benzvy Miller also acknowledges the growing role of fintech, digital banking, and alternative finance in how it's improving Canada's economy. While she supports innovation, the sweet spot is the need for balanced regulations that protect consumers without stifling progress.
"I will want Canadians to make sure they fully understand what it means to own and control their financial information and who to share it with, to ensure that the actors that they're engaging with and agreeing to give their information to are not bad actors."
A major focus of Benzvy Miller’s tenure as the new FCAC Commissioner will be overseeing Canada’s Consumer-Driven Banking Framework, otherwise known as open banking. This framework will enable Canadians to securely access and share their financial data with trusted financial technology companies, increasing competition and improving financial services and choice for consumers.
Based on experience from other jurisdictions that have successfully implemented open banking such as in the UK, open banking also fosters financial transparency and empowers consumers. It's fintechs that are creating seamless integrations with banks and other financial institutions to offer better financial planning and more competitive financial services to the every day consumer.
It was announced in the 2024 federal budget that open banking it Canada would be delayed until 2026, to the dismay of industry who have been waiting for years for the initiative to be realized but with the appointment of the Benzvy Miller there's hope that the FCAC can finalize the implementation and oversight framework on this new timeline without any further delays or risks to the project.
"Collaboration is key. By working together, regulators, industry leaders, and consumer advocates can build a financial system that works for everyone."
Benzvy Miller is expected to work closely with fintech leaders, regulators, and consumer advocacy groups to create policies that protect consumers while also embracing digital innovation. Her role in shaping how Canada’s financial system adapts to emerging technologies from consumer-driven banking to the implementation of AI is highly significant for the future of fintech regulation in Canada.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) has advocated for many many years for a progressive regulatory environment that supports innovation while also protecting consumers and fostering trust. Based on her interview, Benzvy Miller's vision aligns pretty well with NCFA's mission and we will continue monitor and provide updates on how these developments impact the industry.
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
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Partner News | Release | Jan 29, 2025
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NCFA) is pleased to highlight a key milestone for one of our industry partners. On January 27, 2025, Issuer Direct Corporation is officially rebranding as ACCESS Newswire Inc., trading under a new NYSE ticker symbol "ACCS".
ACCESS Newswire Inc. is redefining how businesses connect with investors and the media, launching the first-in-industry subscription-based PR and IR platform that optimizes the value and impact of client press release distribution and media and investor engagement with more flexibility and full transparency.
Brian R. Balbirnie, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ACCESS Newswire Inc.:
"The rebrand to ACCESS Newswire represents more than a name change; it's a commitment to creating a dynamic, all-encompassing investor relations and public relations customer experience. Since 2006, we have continued to progress our business and maximize the value provided to the thousands of customers over the years, but we recognized the need for a brand that reflects the next 20 years of our business."
A more customer-centric and streamlined approach to PR and IR, built for the modern business needs:
The PR and IR industries have relied on traditional pricing models and fragmented solutions for too long. ACCESS Newswire is changing the game by offering businesses a simpler, more efficient, and affordable way to connect with their audience. This change is innovative and is focused on building long term value for its customers. For more details, visit ACCESS Newswire Inc.
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
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