Digital debt restructuring company LendStreet, Inc. has closed a $7 million USD series A equity round and raised $110 million USD in debt financing.

The event will look at "scaling robo-advice alongside traditional advice and how artificial intelligence and new digital capabilities can enhance financial planning."

"We will find the InsurTech leaders of tomorrow and create new solutions that will benefit the Lloyd’s market,” said Stuart Marks, founder of L Marks.

In a transaction last year, credit card giant American Express acquired U.K. digital payments startups Cake Technologies, the global financial firm recently confirmed.

In a massive deal, Experian is set to acquire London-based fintech startup ClearScore for $385 million.

The EU will propose common standards for blockchain in an effort to create more clarity and encourage fintech innovation.

Alongside established firms, such as Credit Karma and Coinbase, nearly half the list — or 22 firms — are newcomers in 2018.

Companies in all industries and all locations are increasingly ...

"Advanced automation, AI, and machine learning will help banks provide better services for their customers," says Thrive Inc. founder Kunal Sehgal.

The most popular reported use for fintech, with 32% of respondents, has been connecting with online lenders.

“Integrating blockchain with SAP and other business applications is inevitably the next frontier for blockchain,” says SophiaTX head Jaroslav Kacina.

The U.K. and Germany remain the fintech leaders in Europe, but the growth of two other markets shows that location is less important than ever.

2018 will mark a new era for action due to a new EU directive — the Revised Payment Services Directive— that will go into effect in January.

PwC report: “Traditional institutions are transforming themselves at a pace not seen before with greater urgency than in most other markets."

"PayPal customers will be able to pay for App Store, Apple Music, iTunes and iBooks purchases across iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices using their PayPal account," said the company.

"We use Apple Pay in apps, we use it in the web, and there was one final frontier we wanted to conquer," said Craig Federighi of Apple.

Though Mizuho will only take up to a 15% stake in the new venture, it believes the endeavor will help it innovate outside of the stuffy culture within the bank.

Uniken's CEO says being selected for the Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator program "is a great validation of our innovation in delivering great security.”

With Rise London, Barclays hopes to create new fintech-based products and services, experiment with emerging technologies, and spot early trends.

The award, handed out annually by Celent, aims to honor the best use of technology in different areas critical to success in banking.

"The presence of the World Economic Forum in our city will help accelerate innovative science and technology policies," said San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

"We are strengthening our commitment to simplifying processes and experiences, empowering users, and facilitating digital interactions," said Miki Migdal of NICE.

Though most now see the importance of omnichannel, more than half of the financial companies surveyed "have not begun substantive efforts."

"Daimler's new payment system underscores our ambition...to make the products and services we offer even more appealing," said the company's Bodo Uebber.

"As the software gets smarter it just creates more and more opportunities to add value," says Rod Drury of Xero.