Noticias FinTech M\u00e9xico<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>
Banking Convention Includes the Usual Promises \u2013 Will it be\u00a0Different\u00a0this Time?<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>
The President tells bankers they should be lending more. Bankers say\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0only so much they can do when such\u00a0a big chunk\u00a0of the economy is cash-based\u00a0and informal, limiting financial\u00a0and tax\u00a0data\u00a0necessary\u00a0to making prudent lending decisions.\u00a0The government pledges action \u2013 and then, not much happens. Such has been the\u00a0story over the past couple of decades,\u00a0but maybe, just\u00a0maybe,\u00a0the\u00a0situation is beginning to change as the government\u00a0badly\u00a0needs\u00a0more\u00a0tax revenues, and the country\u00a0badly needs\u00a0more\u00a0credit.\u00a0President\u00a0Sheinbaum\u00a0announced\u00a0that\u00a0her administration and the banks are \u201cworking on schemes\u00a0to make digital payments mandatory for gasoline and toll roads\u201d (see the transcript\u00a0aqu\u00ed<\/a>).\u00a0And in part to fend off possible broad cuts in interchange fees, the banks agreed not to charge\u00a0card\u00a0commissions on gas station sales.\u00a0Meanwhile,\u00a0Banxico\u2019s\u00a0Victoria Rodr\u00edguez Ceja said\u00a0she\u00a0wants\u00a0digital payments platforms\u00a0CoDi\u00a0and DiMo to be simpler,\u00a0faster\u00a0and more standardized inside bank apps\u00a0and\u00a0opened a public consultation with that end in mind.\u00a0(So far\u00a0CoDi\u00a0and DiMo have been failures: years after launch,\u00a0to\u00a0Banxico\u2019s\u00a0embarrassment,\u00a0they\u00a0remain\u00a0marginal, especially when set against Brazil\u2019s Pix, now the country\u2019s most-used payment method.\u00a0\u00a0In the absence of mandatory rules,\u00a0critics argue\u00a0large banks have little incentive to back an open,\u00a0zero-fee system that could cut commission income and weaken the competitive advantages that come with scale\u00a0and intra-bank\u00a0payments.)\u00a0Were\u00a0all\u00a0this\u00a0to materialize,\u00a0it would be a change\u00a0in approach from\u00a0Mexico\u2019s recent\u00a0governments\u00a0\u2013 Dr.\u00a0Sheinbaum\u2019s predecessor famously\u00a0bragged about having no credit cards and only carrying\u00a0200 pesos in cash.\u00a0As we\u2019ve noted\u00a0before,\u00a0technology alone\u00a0(be it in the shape of a revamped\u00a0CoDi, or new banking licenses for fintechs)\u00a0likely\u00a0isn\u2019t going to cut it: coercive measures will be necessary to get merchants and consumers to\u00a0pay\u00a0more\u00a0taxes, and banks to forsake fees and\u00a0undermine their\u00a0competitive moats that scale give them.\u00a0All of this implies political costs \u2013 but not doing anything, and letting credit and tax collection lag,\u00a0is becoming\u00a0more and more\u00a0costly,\u00a0too.\u00a0<\/p> Bloomberg, 18\/03\/26, Michael O\u2019Boyle:\u00a0<\/b>Mexican Banks Are Working to Boost Digital Payments in Tech Push<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Otras fuentes:\u00a0<\/b>El Universal<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0El CEO<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Mexico\u2019s central bank prepares overhaul of SME accounts<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> In related news,\u00a0Mexico\u2019s central bank is preparing changes to its so-called \u201cLevel 2\u201d (N2) bank accounts for small businesses, in a move aimed at widening access to finance and supporting the government\u2019s investment push. The\u00a0idea is to\u00a0simplify access to basic banking services for micro,\u00a0small\u00a0and medium-sized firms. The proposed changes include raising transaction caps \u2014 currently set at around 3,000 UDIs \u2014 which often prevent businesses from receiving payments once thresholds are exceeded. Another key proposal is to allow\u00a0N2\u00a0accounts to be opened without a tax identification number (RFC), addressing a major barrier for informal businesses wary of entering the formal tax system. The work is being led by\u00a0Oth\u00f3n\u00a0Moreno,\u00a0Banxico\u2019s\u00a0head of payments infrastructure. The aim is to allow small firms to open accounts digitally, with less paperwork and greater flexibility, bringing more businesses into the financial system and, eventually, into credit markets.\u00a0By removing tax ID (RFC) requirements for these accounts, the government is effectively acknowledging that fear of tax enforcement is one reason SMEs avoid opening bank accounts. The idea is to bring them into the financial system by loosening entry requirements, and then, over time, either\u00a0formalize\u00a0them or make tax avoidance harder as their transactions become digital and inevitably traceable.\u00a0Better in the banking system without an RFC than outside the banking system all together.\u00a0<\/p> Bloomberg, 19\/03\/26,\u00a0Jeanette Leyva:\u00a0<\/b>Action from Banxico<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Otras fuentes:\u00a0<\/b>El CEO<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Stripe CDMX Event Brings\u00a0Fintechs\u00a0Together\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Stripe Commons\u00a0brought together founders and leaders from fintech companies, neobanks, and ecosystem operators to discuss advancements in solutions such as cross-border payments, on-chain foreign exchange, and tokenized assets. This comes at a time when stablecoins are increasingly being positioned as 24\/7 payment rails, shown by how in 2025, the volume of stablecoins used for payments doubled, reaching approximately $400 billion globally, with an estimated 60% attributed to B2B payments.\u00a0Stablecoins can help address challenges related to cross-border payments, settlement times, and transaction costs.\u00a0In Latin America, they may\u00a0provide\u00a0new ways for businesses to move money globally and access digital financial services more efficiently. Stripe is building infrastructure that helps companies\u00a0utilize\u00a0these technologies.\u00a0<\/p> Linkedin\u00a0post:\u00a0<\/b>Enlace<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0\u00a0MexMoves\u00a0Podcast:\u00a0<\/b>Episode 60<\/a>.<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Digital overtakes cash in remittances<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Digital transfers have, for the first time, overtaken cash in the US\u2013Mexico remittance corridor, the largest in the world. Bloomberg says fintech groups such as F\u00e9lix Pago,\u00a0Remitly\u00a0and Wise, along with crypto firms such as\u00a0Bitso, have taken\u00a0share\u00a0from traditional cash-based players like Western Union and MoneyGram.\u00a0Banxico\u00a0data cited in the piece show digital remittances rose from 18.8% of US-to-Mexico transfers in 2020 to 50.4% in 2025, overtaking cash for the first time. Cost is a major reason: global remittance fees average 6.4%, while digital options can be closer to 4%. Policy and demographics are also pushing the change. Since January, the US has imposed a 1% tax on cash remittances, while digital payments are exempt, encouraging more traceable transactions. Younger migrants are also more comfortable with apps than cash pickup counters. Still, cash\u00a0remains\u00a0important, especially for lower-income households with limited access to bank accounts or credit, and many users\u00a0remain\u00a0wary of digital channels. The article suggests the market is at a turning point: digital is gaining fast, but trust, financial inclusion and the enduring role of cash still shape how money moves between the US and Mexico.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p> https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2026-03-17\/mexico-s-62-billion-in-us-remittances-shifts-away-from-cash?utm_source=chatgpt.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Lectura adicional…<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Noticias de LatAm FinTech<\/b> \u00a0<\/p> Santander\u2019s Getnet Expands to Colombia with Regional Payments Platform<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Santander launched its payments fintech Getnet in Colombia to provide merchants with a unified platform that connects them to payment infrastructure across Latin America, strengthening its regional acquiring strategy.\u00a0With over \u20ac238 bn processed in 2025 across 10.5 bn transactions, the solution offers fraud prevention, payment processing, and e-commerce capabilities while enabling cross-border connectivity for businesses\u00a0operating\u00a0in multiple markets.\u00a0The\u00a0expansion reflects the growing importance of scalable, multi-country payment platforms in\u00a0LatAm\u00a0and highlights increasing competition to build regional payment rails that support both local merchants and multinational commerce.\u00a0<\/p> Latam Fintech Hub, 19\/03\/26, Staff:\u00a0<\/b>Getnet,\u00a0Santander\u2019s fintech unit, launches in Colombia to offer merchants a regional payments platform<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Colombia\u2019s Bre-B Processes 500\u00a0Million\u00a0Transactions, Setting\u00a0LatAm\u00a0Real-Time Payments Benchmark<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Colombia\u2019s Bre-B real-time payments system,\u00a0operated\u00a0by Banco de la Rep\u00fablica and powered by ACI Worldwide, has processed over 500 million transactions and registered more than 100 million payment keys within its first five months. The system\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0rapid scalability and adoption, creating a foundation for greater financial inclusion and digital commerce across the country. Bre-B\u2019s interoperability and public-private collaboration serve as a model for other Latin American markets\u00a0seeking\u00a0to modernize payment rails, with the next focus on enabling real-time cross-border payments to capture high-volume remittance corridors between the U.S. and\u00a0LatAm.\u00a0<\/p> FF News, 19\/03\/26, Lauren Towner:\u00a0<\/b>Colombia\u2019s Bre-B surpasses 500 million transactions as ACI Worldwide and Banco de la Rep\u00fablica take the stage at Fintech Americas 2026<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Lectura adicional…<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Noticias mundiales sobre tecnolog\u00eda financiera<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> FinTech Sector Raises Over $1.1 Billion in a Strong Funding Week<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Global fintechs secured more than $1.1 bn across 23 deals, marking one of the largest fundraising weeks of 2026. Leading the headlines, Cloaked, a consumer-focused privacy and security platform, raised $375\u00a0mn\u00a0in Series B and growth financing. Other notable rounds included\u00a0Upvest\u00a0($125\u00a0mn) for investment infrastructure modernization in Europe, XBOW ($120\u00a0mn) in autonomous cybersecurity, and Oasis Security ($120\u00a0mn) for AI-driven identity governance. The week highlights concentrated capital allocation into high-value deals across cybersecurity,\u00a0WealthTech,\u00a0PayTech,\u00a0InsurTech,\u00a0RegTech, and ESG sectors,\u00a0predominantly in\u00a0the U.S., with\u00a0additional\u00a0activity in Europe, Singapore, Brazil, and Dubai. The trend signals strong investor confidence in fintech innovation and the acceleration of digital financial infrastructure globally.\u00a0<\/p> FinTech Global, 20\/03\/26, Staff:\u00a0<\/b>Over $1.1\u00a0bn raised across fintech funding rounds in a standout week<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Nasdaq Receives SEC Approval to Enable Trading of Tokenized Securities<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Nasdaq received approval from the U.S. SEC to allow certain equities and ETFs to be traded and settled in tokenized form, marking a significant step toward integrating blockchain infrastructure into traditional capital markets. The initiative will initially cover securities such as Russell 1000 stocks and major index ETFs, enabling dual trading formats alongside conventional shares while\u00a0leveraging\u00a0existing settlement systems. The move reflects growing institutional adoption of tokenization and signals a shift toward more efficient, programmable market infrastructure, with implications for global fintechs building trading, custody, and settlement solutions on blockchain rails.\u00a0<\/p> Reuters, 18\/03\/26, Utkarsh Shetti:\u00a0<\/b>Nasdaq receives SEC approval to trade tokenized securities<\/a>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> SEC Issues Long-Awaited Crypto Guidance Clarifying Token Classification<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> The U.S. SEC released new guidance defining how\u00a0different types\u00a0of crypto assets should be classified, distinguishing between categories such as digital commodities, stablecoins, and digital securities, with only the latter subject to securities laws. The regulator also signaled openness to a \u201csafe harbor\u201d framework that would allow crypto companies to raise capital under tailored rules while\u00a0maintaining\u00a0investor protections. The move provides long-awaited regulatory clarity for the crypto industry and marks a step toward integrating digital assets into mainstream financial markets, with implications for fintechs\u00a0operating\u00a0across tokenization, payments, and blockchain-based financial services globally.\u00a0<\/p> Reuters, 17\/03\/26, Hannah Lang:\u00a0<\/b>U.S. securities regulator issues long-awaited crypto guidance<\/a>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Mastercard Acquires BVNK to Accelerate Stablecoin Payments Strategy<\/b>\u00a0<\/p> Mastercard agreed to\u00a0acquire\u00a0stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK for up to $1.8 bn, strengthening its position in blockchain-based payments and advancing the integration of regulated digital assets into traditional financial networks. The deal provides Mastercard with access to BVNK\u2019s licensing framework and enterprise-grade infrastructure, enabling faster, compliant stablecoin transactions as competition intensifies with players like Stripe and Coinbase.\u00a0<\/p> Bloomberg, 17\/03\/26,\u00a0Paige Smith:\u00a0<\/b>Mastercard Buys Stablecoin Firm BVNK for Up to $1.8 Billion<\/a>\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Lectura adicional…<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>