SWIFT unveils blockchain-based shared ledger to accelerate real-time cross-border payments

Norwegian central bank DNB’s decision to pull out of a planned stablecoin initiative highlights increasing caution among European banks amid regulatory uncertainties and operational hurdles in the crypto space.The Norwegian central bank along with the financial giant DNB recently announced that they’re pulling out of a planned European stablecoin project set for 2026, and they’re also putting their proposed cryptocurrency investment fund on hold, at least for now. This decision—well, it really underscores how uncertain things still are around stablecoins in Europe, especially when it comes to their maturity, regulatory clarity, and governance structures. And honestly, it’s a move with pretty big ripple effects for banks, investors, regulators, and policymakers alike. So, what are stablecoins exactly? They’re digital assets designed to keep their value stable in relation to fiat currencies or a basket of assets. They play a pretty important role—as a bridge, really—between traditional finance and the fast-growing crypto scene. Now, given the wild swings and failures seen in some cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, EU regulators decided to roll out the Markets in Crypto-Assets (or MiCA). The aim? To set up a comprehensive regulatory framework for those issuing and offering crypto assets and services. But, even with this framework in place, there's still a lot of practical hurdles—things like cross-border supervision, reserve and liquidity requirements, and technical interoperability that haven’t been fully ironed out yet. DNB’s decision to step back shows there are quite a few concerns, intertwined and complex. For one, the stablecoin market is still pretty young, and it doesn’t yet seem resilient enough to support widespread transaction use. There are real risks—liquidity stresses, vulnerabilities in smart contracts, systemic failures—that haven’t been solved. Secondly, even with MiCA’s existence, there are still grey areas when it comes to regulation: things like deposit protections, how reserves are supervised, and what legal forms are allowed. Plus, governance remains a huge question mark—what happens in a crisis? Who’s liable—the central bank? Commercial banks? Private issuers? These issues are still not clearly answered, and that uncertainty—that ambiguity—makes institutions cautious. Adding to that, engaging early in the space could bring reputational and regulatory risks for banks. That’s part of why DNB is taking a cautious stance, I guess. In addition to withdrawing from the European stablecoin consortium, they also paused the launch of their own cryptocurrency fund, which was supposed to roll out quite soon. This pause isn’t just about holding back; it’s more a sign that they see real opportunities but are prioritising risk management given the regulatory fog and operational hurdles. Eivind Aukrust, the Head of Index Management, shared this internally, emphasizing that the fund’s timeline remains uncertain for now. Now, this retreat from DNB isn’t just an isolated move—it also has some wider consequences for the market. For one, other financial institutions might follow suit, becoming more cautious. This could slow down private investment, which is vital for developing the infrastructure needed for stablecoins. Banks that want to offer products aligned with a common European framework might delay their launches until clearer supervisory guidelines and technical standards are established. The trouble is, if they hesitate too long, it could push consumers toward unregulated or decentralized options, making consumer protection more difficult and possibly increasing systemic risk. And while fintech companies with a higher risk appetite might try to step in temporarily, that brings its own set of risks, like defaults or scams. Meanwhile, on the flip side, a group of nine major European banks—like ING, UniCredit, SEB, and CaixaBank—are still working together to get a euro-linked stablecoin off the ground, aiming for a launch that complies with MiCA by late 2026. The goal here? To strengthen Europe’s control over its payment systems, which are currently somewhat dominated by US stablecoins, and to boost integration across the eurozone. Interestingly enough, DNB isn’t part of this initiative, which highlights differences in timing and risk appetite among these institutions. Looking ahead, a few different scenarios could unfold for Europe’s stablecoin scene and related crypto investment products. One possibility is what you might call an ‘wait and see’ approach—leading to market consolidation where stronger, well-capitalized players with solid governance models dominate, even if regulations are still catching up. Or perhaps regulatory standardization will drive banks to gradually get more involved in regulated stablecoin projects, often teaming up with established payment infrastructures. We might see a kind of dual market: one with carefully regulated, risk-mitigated stablecoins, and another with experimental tokens, possibly supported by faster-moving central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots, either as alternatives or complements. But if European countries can’t agree or coordinate effectively, fragmentation could set in, creating regional silos that add to interoperability headaches and deepen competitive pressures. So, what should everyone do to deal with all these challenges? Well, practical steps for banks include trying out modular solutions with transparent governance and solid risk management—you know, using regulatory sandboxes to test things out and strengthen resilience. Supervisors need to clarify rules—preferably in a way that’s neutral towards technology—about reserves, liquidity, and how to handle crises, while also coordinating across borders to prevent a patchwork of standards. Investors should demand regulated custodians, independent audits of reserves, clear exit strategies, and diverse risk approaches when choosing providers. Policymakers, meanwhile, should focus on setting standards for interoperability, investing in research around payment infrastructure, and building digital identity systems that support safe, efficient transactions. Overall, DNB’s cautious retreat illustrates the ongoing balancing act faced by financial institutions and regulators alike: fostering innovation without risking systemic stability. It makes clear that, despite progress under frameworks like MiCA, Europe’s journey toward fully integrated, scalable, and trustworthy stablecoin ecosystems is still very much a work in progress. For everyone involved—market participants in particular—it calls for a measured approach that emphasizes compliance, transparency, and resilience. Only then can real consumer trust be built, paving the way for sustainable growth in digital finance. 📌 Reference Map: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [3], [4] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [3], [2], [7] - Paragraph 4 – [1], [3], [4] - Paragraph 5 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 6 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 7 – [1], [3], [5], [7] - Paragraph 8 – [1] Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://bitcoin-faq.net/dnb-zieht-sich-vom-europaeischen-stablecoin-projekt-2026-zurueck/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.conflingo.com/news/2025-09-17/dnb-postpones-launch-of-cryptocurrency-investment-fund - DNB has decided to delay the introduction of its planned cryptocurrency investment fund, which was initially scheduled to launch on Friday. The decision was made following a comprehensive assessment, as communicated by Eivind Aukrust, Head of Index Management at DNB, in an email to BankShift. The timeline for the fund's potential launch remains uncertain. https://www.kaupr.io/en-us/news/dnb-not-participating-in-joint-euro-stablecoin-in-this-round - DNB has confirmed that, despite ongoing discussions with the promoters of the new Euro stablecoin consortium, it has chosen not to join this initial round. The bank will continue its dialogue with the banking consortium and is open to potential future participation, though it remains uncertain when or if DNB will join. https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/25/nine-european-banks-join-forces-to-issue-mica-compliant-euro-stablecoin/ - Nine major European banks, including ING, Banca Sella, KBC, Danske Bank, DekaBank, UniCredit, SEB, CaixaBank, and Raiffeisen Bank International, have formed a consortium to launch a euro-denominated stablecoin regulated under the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework. The stablecoin is expected to be issued in the second half of 2026, aiming to provide a European alternative to US-dominated stablecoins and enhance Europe's strategic autonomy in payments. https://www.kaupr.io/en-us/news/dnb-is-considering-launching-a-broad-crypto-fund-to-its-clients - DNB is internally discussing the possibility of launching a crypto fund, noting interest from customers seeking broad exposure to cryptocurrencies. Knut Hellandsvik, Head of Equity at DNB Asset Management, mentioned that the idea is to gain broad exposure, including through value chains, exchanges, and companies that own significant amounts of crypto. The bank is considering setting something up, similar to its approach with nuclear power. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/19/nasdaq-pauses-plans-to-launch-crypto-custody-services-.html - Nasdaq has paused its plans to launch a crypto custody business, CEO Adena Friedman announced. The decision was made considering the shifting business and regulatory environment in the U.S. Despite the pause, Nasdaq continues to build and deliver technology capabilities that position it as a leading digital asset software solutions provider to the global industry. https://www.marketscreener.com/news/dnb-halts-plans-for-cryptocurrency-fund-ce7d58d8dc8bf125 - Norwegian bank DNB has put its plans for a new fund investing in the cryptocurrency market on hold. The fund was originally set to launch this Friday but has now been cancelled. Eivind Aukrust, Head of Index Management at DNB, stated that the decision was due to an overall assessment, as communicated in an email to BankShift. It remains unclear when or if the fund will be launched in the future. Noah Fact Check Pro The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation. Freshness check Score: 8 Notes: The narrative is recent, with the earliest known publication date being September 27, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content has not been republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. The article includes updated data but does not recycle older material. Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: No direct quotes are present in the narrative, indicating potentially original or exclusive content. Source reliability Score: 4 Notes: The narrative originates from bitcoin-faq.net, a site that appears to be a personal blog or niche news outlet. This raises concerns about the reliability and credibility of the information presented. The site does not have a verifiable public presence or legitimate website, which could indicate potential fabrication. Plausability check Score: 7 Notes: The claims about DNB's withdrawal from the European stablecoin project and the postponement of its cryptocurrency investment fund are plausible and align with other reports from reputable sources. However, the lack of supporting detail from any other reputable outlet and the unusual tone and phrasing of the narrative raise concerns. The language and tone feel inconsistent with typical corporate or official language, which could be a distraction tactic. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM Summary: The narrative presents plausible claims but originates from a questionable source with low reliability. The lack of supporting detail from reputable outlets and the unusual tone further diminish its credibility. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a 'FAIL' with medium confidence.

Ripple’s rollout of the Multi-Purpose Token standard signals a major evolution in blockchain-based asset management, embedding compliance and control directly into the protocol for scaled, institution-friendly tokenisation.The XRP Ledger recently hit a pretty big milestone with the rollout of its Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard on October 1, signaling a notable shift in how real-world assets might be tokenized and managed directly at the protocol level. Unlike Ethereum’s method, which involves creating fungible tokens like ERC-20s and security tokens through custom smart contracts layered on top of the main chain, the MPT standard is built right into the core of the XRP Ledger. This design choice—well, at least to me—seems to aim at making tokenization simpler and safer by embedding compliance and control features directly into the ledger itself, instead of depending on individual issuer contracts. Ripple engineer Kenny Lei pointed out that the MPT standard is essentially designed to better meet institutional needs by creating a uniform standard for what used to be complicated, bespoke, and often burdensome processes needing lots of audits. Essentially, it offers native support for compliance functions like KYC/AML checks, allowlists, issuer-defined transfer rules, token freezing, and clawback rights, along with on-chain metadata for regulatory reporting and disclosures. And, interestingly enough, the design also includes multi-signature support and delegated key management, which are operational features that financial institutions find really important. Simply put, MPTs expand what the XRP Ledger can do by managing fungible tokens with issuer-set policies and lifecycle controls built directly into the protocol. This is quite different from the Ethereum ecosystem, where similar ideas—like those in standards such as ERC-1400 and ERC-3643—are just optional modules implemented through smart contracts, which can vary a lot from project to project. Ethereum’s approach introduces more complexity and leaves room for regulatory uncertainty, because issuers have to assemble identity registries, compliance oracles, and supporting contracts on their own to mimic similar features. Ripple envisions MPTs as the foundation of a sort of “language of real assets,” with native support for features like maturity schedules, tranche IDs, investor eligibility, and recovery options. Plus, they’re also working on confidential versions of MPTs—yeah, privacy-preserving transfers that might leverage zero-knowledge proofs—aiming to balance regulatory transparency with the need for transactional privacy. Right now, the main use cases for this standard include tokenized bonds with scheduled coupons, share classes with specific eligibility rules, stablecoins that have recovery pathways, fractionalized real-world assets, tokenized money market funds, closed-loop loyalty instruments, and collateral tailored for institutional DeFi. These tokens will be part of an upcoming native lending protocol, expected to launch in the XRP Ledger version 3.0. Alongside this, there’s a plan for a dedicated MPT-compatible decentralized exchange (DEX) to support secondary trading and liquidity. Ripple claims that this strategy will cut down on integration costs and simplify compliance, because it embeds controls directly into the ledger itself, rather than scattering them across multiple smart contracts that might require some trial-and-error to get right. This should, in theory, reduce the uncertainty and audit scope for issuers. The rollout plans also include adding automated market maker (AMM) and DEX support for MPTs and eventually progressing toward “Confidential MPTs,” which aim to enhance privacy without sacrificing regulatory oversight. Of course, industry watchers acknowledge that while Ethereum’s ERC standards have been refined over a decade, their complexity and flexibility have sometimes made institutional adoption a bit tricky. Some folks have even suggested that maybe extending the XRP Ledger’s trust-line model could have been a simpler approach. Still, Ripple developers argue that having controls embedded directly into the protocol creates a more durable and scalable foundation—reducing overhead and improving ledger performance by replacing simple token balances with richer, native functionalities. Multi-Purpose Tokens also bring some notable technical advantages: they store unchangeable metadata on-chain, give issuers the ability to define fixed or dynamic supply and transfer rules, and make node operations more efficient by streamlining token management—addressing some of the scalability, cost, and compliance issues that are typical in current tokenization frameworks. Looking ahead, Ripple engineers are proposing confidential MPTs to enable privacy-focused transactions that still maintain the integrity of token supplies under regulatory scrutiny. Honestly, this is a pretty ambitious upgrade—the kind that could open up the ledger to more institutional players seeking both confidentiality and compliance—and it’s being seen as one of the most significant advances since the XLS-33 MPToken V1 amendment went live. Ultimately, this will allow private transfers within the bounds of regulation, making XRP more appealing to big players who value both privacy and regulatory adherence. As the native token system continues to evolve, XRP’s market price was around $2.97 at the time of writing, which shows that investor interest in Ripple’s expanding blockchain ecosystem remains alive and well. References: - Paragraph 1 – Bitcoin Insider, Cryptopolitan, TradingView - Paragraph 2 – Bitcoin Insider, Bitcoin Insider, XRPL Docs, XRPL Learn - Paragraph 3 – Bitcoin Insider, Bitcoin Insider, XRPL Docs - Paragraph 4 – Bitcoin Insider, Bitcoin Insider, XRPL Learn - Paragraph 5 – Bitcoin Insider, Bitcoin Insider, TradingView, XRPL Learn - Paragraph 6 – Bitcoin Insider, Cryptopolitan, XRPL Docs, XRPL Learn - Paragraph 7 – Bitcoin Insider, Cryptopolitan, MEXC News - Paragraph 8 – Bitcoin Insider, XRPL Docs, XRPL Learn, MEXC News - Paragraph 9 – Bitcoin Insider Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://www.bitcoininsider.org/article/288583/xrp-ledgers-mpt-standard-goes-live-promises-what-ethereum-cant-deliver - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.bitcoininsider.org/article/288583/xrp-ledgers-mpt-standard-goes-live-promises-what-ethereum-cant-deliver - The XRP Ledger has activated its Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard, introducing a native framework for issuing and governing fungible tokens. This standard aims to simplify and secure the tokenisation of real-world assets, aligning with institutional practices without relying on custom smart contracts. Unlike Ethereum's ERC-20 tokens, which are implemented as smart contracts at the application layer, MPTs are embedded directly into the XRP Ledger's protocol, offering core controls within the base protocol rather than in per-issuer contracts. This approach addresses challenges faced by institutions, such as audit scope and regulatory uncertainty, by providing built-in compliance features like KYC/AML authorisation, allowlists, issuer-defined transfer rules, freeze and clawback rights, on-chain metadata for reporting and disclosure, and multi-signature or delegated key management. Ripple's institutional roadmap positions MPTs as the 'language of real assets,' capable of carrying maturity schedules, tranche identifiers, eligibility constraints, and recovery mechanisms natively, with confidential variants slated to enable privacy-preserving transfers. The standard's immediate scope targets institutional tokenisation use cases, including bonds with coupon schedules, share classes with investor eligibility rules, stablecoins with recovery processes, fractionalised real-world assets, tokenised money market funds, closed-loop loyalty instruments, and collateral that can integrate with what Ripple refers to as 'Institutional DeFi.' https://www.cryptopolitan.com/mpt-standard-on-xrp-ledger-mainnet/ - The XRP Ledger has officially launched the Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard, a new framework designed to simplify the issuance of real-world assets on the blockchain by institutions and developers. The MPTokensV1 amendment was activated on October 1, after receiving 28 approvals out of 38 validators. This upgrade embeds the new token standard directly into the XRP Ledger, eliminating the need for developers to hard-code custom smart contracts for tokenisation projects. Ripple developers stated that MPTs are built to meet the practical needs of developers and institutions, offering a streamlined approach to tokenisation without the complexities associated with custom contracts. The MPT standard aims to address challenges in real-world asset tokenisation, such as the need for extensive security audits, complex bespoke contract logic, and meeting regulatory requirements, by providing a native solution within the XRP Ledger's protocol. https://xrpl.org/docs/concepts/tokens/fungible-tokens/multi-purpose-tokens - Multi-Purpose Tokens (MPTs) are a form of fungible token on the XRP Ledger, designed for greater efficiency and ease of use based on lessons learned from trust line tokens. MPTs allow developers to take advantage of ready-to-use tokenisation features with minimal code, enabling the creation of various token experiences from a single integration. Key features of MPTs on the XRP Ledger include on-chain metadata storage, transferability and supply controls, and built-in compliance features. MPTs store their metadata directly on the XRP Ledger blockchain, ensuring immutability once established. They can have a fixed token supply, be defined as non-transferable, or have transfer fees set by the issuer. Compliance features include the ability to lock tokens held by a tokenholder, set a global lock for all MPT balances, claw back tokens from tokenholder wallets, and allow only authorised wallets to hold issued tokens. MPTs differ from trust lines by representing a unidirectional relationship with only one balance, reducing overhead and simplifying the conceptual model. They also require less storage space and improve node performance when processing large volumes of transactions. https://www.tradingview.com/news/u_today%3A982357d98094b%3A0-xrp-ledger-welcomes-new-token-standard-details/ - The XRP Ledger has introduced a new token standard, the Multi-Purpose Token (MPT), following the successful activation of the XLS-33 MPToken V1 amendment. MPTs are designed to improve efficiency and ease of use for tokenisation on the XRP Ledger, with features like compliance, control, and metadata embedded directly into the protocol. This development marks a significant milestone in advancing tokenisation for real-world assets and institutional DeFi use cases. The new token standard aims to streamline the process of issuing and managing tokens on the XRP Ledger, providing a more efficient and user-friendly experience for developers and institutions. https://learn.xrpl.org/course/tokenization-and-real-world-assets-on-the-xrpl/lesson/introducing-the-xrp-mpt-multi-purpose-token-standard/ - The XRP Ledger's Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard introduces key features directly into the token's definition, including rich metadata, precise issuance controls, authorisation flags, and compliance functions like Freeze and Clawback. This approach reduces costs, risks, and development time, and simplifies audits. MPTs are designed to meet the practical needs of developers and institutions, offering robust, permissioned control while leveraging the scalability, performance, and low transaction costs of a proven public blockchain. The MPT standard aims to unlock the future of tokenisation on the XRP Ledger, providing a foundation for a more efficient, transparent, and accessible financial ecosystem. https://www.mexc.co/en-IN/news/xrp-ledger-devs-introduces-confidential-multi-purpose-tokens/99670 - Ripple engineers have proposed a new standard for confidential Multi-Purpose Tokens (Confidential MPTs) on the XRP Ledger, allowing private transactions while preserving regulatory oversight. This proposal, introduced on September 12 in a discussion hosted on the XRPL Standards forum, aims to help users hide the amounts they send or hold without violating the rules governing token supply. The plan is one of the most technically ambitious upgrades to the ledger’s token system since the XLS-33 standard was launched through the 2024 version 2.3.0 release. Confidential MPTs are expected to enhance privacy features on the XRP Ledger, enabling confidential transactions while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. Noah Fact Check Pro The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation. Freshness check Score: 10 Notes: ✅ The narrative is fresh, with the XRP Ledger's Multi-Purpose Token (MPT) standard going live on October 1, 2025. (tradingview.com) Quotes check Score: 10 Notes: ✅ The quotes from Ripple engineer Kenny Lei are original and not found in earlier material. Source reliability Score: 6 Notes: ⚠️ The narrative originates from Bitcoin Insider, a less well-known outlet, which may raise questions about its reliability. Plausability check Score: 9 Notes: ✅ The claims about the MPT standard's features and benefits are plausible and align with Ripple's previous announcements. (cointelegraph.com) Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM Summary: ⚠️ The narrative is fresh and includes original quotes, but it originates from a less reputable source, which raises concerns about its reliability. Further verification from more established outlets is recommended.

MoneyGram and Plaid are extending their open banking collaboration from the US into key European markets, aiming to streamline cross-border money transfers and challenge traditional card-based systems with more secure, cost-effective bank-centric solutions.MoneyGram and Plaid recently announced that they’re expanding their successful open banking partnership from the U.S. into some key European markets. Basically, they want to improve pay-by-bank options for both domestic and cross-border money transfers. This move lets MoneyGram customers link and verify their bank accounts via Plaid’s open banking tech, offering a secure and pretty smooth alternative to using cards or cash. This isn’t just a standalone step—it’s a continuation of the U.S. rollout, where MoneyGram used Plaid’s APIs to make funding flows easier, cut down on friction, and bring costs lower. As MoneyGram CEO Anthony Soohoo put it, their European ambitions are driven by the goal to save customers “time, effort and money,” by making cross-border payments faster and more efficient. Meanwhile, Brian Dammeir, Plaid’s Head of Payments, mentioned that the initial focus was on empowering consumers, but now, with this expansion, they’re trying to make money movement within Europe and across borders more seamless. By going this route, both companies position themselves right at the forefront of that exciting trend toward open banking-driven payments—something that’s really starting to chip away at the old-school dominance of traditional card networks. Data from the U.S. market shows a pretty strong uptake of direct bank funding, which proves the model works and might be ready for a wider, global scale. As digital wallets become more popular globally and real-time payment systems get more advanced, this partnership underlines the shift toward bank-centric payment flows—especially in cross-border contexts where saving costs and boosting efficiency are critical factors. Plaid’s expansion across Europe syncs up well with this overall strategy. They’ve recently added countries like Spain and Poland, improved their connectivity in Germany, and teamed up with local payment providers such as Norbr and GlobePay. The plan is to gradually roll out services to other countries too—think Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—and adapt to each regional demand, all while trying to deliver a seamless digital banking experience. Other fintech giants are jumping into similar open banking payment models across the continent as well. For example, Western Union has partnered with Plaid to bring open banking account verification to its European operations. This, in turn, boosts safety and lets them handle bigger payment sizes via standardized funding methods. And Plaid’s collaboration with Mollie aims at making e-commerce easier for merchants by enabling real-time bank account checks—making onboarding and payments simpler for small and medium-sized businesses across Europe. At the same time, there’s also a notable partnership between MoneyGram and Trustly, which recently launched cardless international money transfers in Europe. This service allows users to pay directly from their bank accounts—no more manual card entries needed—another move that pushes the shift toward bank-based payment mechanisms across many corridors. All these developments paint a picture of a pretty vibrant ecosystem emerging around open banking tech in Europe’s payments landscape. The fact that MoneyGram and Plaid are expanding now is part of a broader industry trend—more and more payments providers and fintechs are leaning into direct bank connections because they offer better security, lower costs, and greater convenience. Especially in the cross-border payment space, which, let’s be honest, has been dominated by legacy systems that are often slow and costly. 📌 Reference Map: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [2], [6] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [2], [6] - Paragraph 4 – [3] - Paragraph 5 – [4], [5] - Paragraph 6 – [7], [1] Source: Noah Wire ServicesVerification / Sources https://payspacemagazine.com/news/moneygram-and-plaid-extend-open-banking-partnership-to-europe-after-u-s-success/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moneygram-and-plaid-expand-open-banking-partnership-to-europe-302573208.html - MoneyGram and Plaid have expanded their pay-by-bank partnership to Europe, enabling customers to link and authenticate bank accounts via Plaid's open banking technology. This integration offers a seamless and secure method for funding domestic and cross-border transfers, building upon their successful U.S. deployment. MoneyGram's CEO, Anthony Soohoo, highlighted the initiative's goal to save customers time, effort, and money through more efficient cross-border transfers. Plaid's Head of Payments, Brian Dammeir, emphasized the focus on enabling smoother movement of money within Europe and beyond. https://plaid.com/blog/plaid-europe-new-partnerships-and-country-coverage/ - Plaid has expanded its open banking services across Europe, adding Spain and Poland to its coverage and offering data connectivity in Germany. The company has also partnered with new payment service providers, Norbr and GlobePay, to facilitate online transactions directly from bank accounts. Plaid's expansion aims to meet local needs and provide seamless digital financial experiences, with plans to extend coverage to additional European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. https://plaid.com/en-eu/customer-stories/western-union/ - Plaid has collaborated with Western Union to offer open banking payments to customers across Europe. This partnership enables Western Union customers to benefit from open banking-powered account verification, enhancing security and allowing for higher payment thresholds. The integration aims to streamline Western Union's payment infrastructure and provide a common standard of funding across Europe, reflecting the company's commitment to innovation and customer trust. https://plaid.com/blog/plaid-and-mollie-join-forces-to-simplify-ecommerce-for-merchants-in-europe/ - Plaid has partnered with Mollie, a leading European payment service provider, to simplify e-commerce for merchants across Europe. The collaboration integrates Plaid's open banking data network into Mollie's platform, enabling real-time bank account verification for merchants. This partnership aims to streamline the onboarding process for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to launch digital storefronts more efficiently and accept payments across Europe. https://www.openbankingexpo.com/news/moneygram-partners-with-plaid-for-pay-by-bank-in-the-us/ - MoneyGram has partnered with Plaid to offer pay-by-bank services in the U.S., enabling customers to authenticate their bank accounts for funding domestic and cross-border payments. The integration leverages Plaid's network of thousands of banks and credit unions, aiming to improve funding flows, reduce friction, and lower costs. The partnership reflects MoneyGram's commitment to delivering faster, more secure payments and enhancing the cross-border payment experience. https://www.pymnts.com/news/cross-border-commerce/cross-border-payments/2024/trustly-and-moneygram-launch-cardless-cross-border-payments-in-europe/ - Trustly and MoneyGram have partnered to enable cardless international money transfers for MoneyGram users in Europe. The service allows users to pay directly from their bank accounts when sending international money transfers through MoneyGram Online, eliminating the need for manual card information entry. Powered by Trustly's open banking platform, the collaboration aims to provide consumers with a more seamless and secure cross-border payment experience. Noah Fact Check Pro The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation. Freshness check Score: 8 Notes: The narrative is recent, dated October 2, 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is April 17, 2025, when MoneyGram and Plaid announced their partnership in the U.S. (prnewswire.com) The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No earlier versions show different information. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. No republishing across low-quality sites or clickbait networks was identified. Quotes check Score: 9 Notes: The direct quotes from MoneyGram CEO Anthony Soohoo and Plaid's Head of Payments Brian Dammeir are consistent with their previous statements in earlier publications. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating originality. No variations in quote wording were found. Source reliability Score: 7 Notes: The narrative originates from PaySpace Magazine, a reputable outlet in the fintech sector. However, it is not as widely recognised as major news organisations like the Financial Times or Reuters. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high reliability score. No unverifiable entities or fabricated information were identified. Plausability check Score: 8 Notes: The claims about MoneyGram and Plaid expanding their partnership to Europe align with their previous announcements and the broader trend towards open banking in Europe. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim was found. The tone is formal and appropriate for corporate communication. Overall assessment Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM Summary: The narrative is recent and based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The quotes are original and consistent with previous statements. The source is reputable, though not as widely recognised as major news organisations. The claims are plausible and align with previous announcements, but the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a concern. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with medium confidence.