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Live · Today’s Edition · June 20, 2026

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Story 01

Finastra Divests Core Banking Unit to Focus on Payments and Lending

Finastra has sold its Universal Banking core banking software business to Pollen Street Capital, narrowing its focus to payments and lending solutions. Pollen Street gains a stronger foothold in the core banking software market, intensifying competition for legacy providers. Finastra’s move signals a strategic retreat from core banking, while Pollen Street plans to drive product innovation and delivery improvements for existing UB clients.

Source: Finextra
Also Worth Knowing
№02

Hong Kong Pilots CBDC for After-Hours Derivatives Margin Payments

Hong Kong is piloting a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for advance margin payments in after-hours derivatives trading. This live-market test positions Hong Kong as a frontrunner in CBDC adoption for capital markets infrastructure. The pilot could influence other financial centers to explore similar applications for cross-border and after-hours settlement.

Source: Finextra
№03

Franklin Templeton Files for ETFs That Reinvest Dividends Into Bitcoin

Franklin Templeton has filed for two new ETFs that will automatically reinvest stock dividends into Bitcoin. This product bridges traditional equity investing and digital assets, giving mainstream investors a new on-ramp to Bitcoin exposure. If approved, it could drive further integration of crypto into regulated financial products and influence ETF competitors’ product roadmaps.

Source: The Block
№04

Zodia Custody Wins Payment Institution License in Luxembourg

Zodia Custody has secured a Payment Institution license from Luxembourg’s financial regulator, expanding its ability to offer crypto asset services across Europe. This regulatory milestone strengthens Zodia’s competitive position against other crypto custodians and may prompt rivals to seek similar licenses. The move is likely to increase regulatory scrutiny and drive service differentiation in the European crypto custody market.

Source: Finextra
№05

EBAday 2026 Spotlights AI and Digital Assets as Strategic Priorities

EBAday 2026 centered on the evolution of AI systems and digital assets, highlighting their shift from passive tools to autonomous agents in financial services. Banks and payment providers are actively integrating AI and digital asset capabilities to stay competitive. As these technologies move from experimentation to core infrastructure, investment and regulatory attention are increasing.

Source: Finextra
The Long Memory
“Despite their ubiquity, POS terminals can unintentionally increase cash usage in some markets by making it easier for merchants to offer cash-back services at checkout.

Filed under: Payments History · The Long Memory

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